Sleeping driver wakes up and hits police car; he’s suspected of DUI

Costa Mesa police arrested a driver suspected of being drunk and asleep behind the wheel before waking up and crashing into an officer’s car Wednesday night.

Police got a call about 10:15 p.m. that someone was passed out in the driver’s seat of a car in the 1900 block of Wallace Avenue, Costa Mesa police Sgt. Pat Wessel said.

The driver had the car in gear with his foot on the brake when officers found him, according to police.

Police feared the car would careen down the street if the man woke up and suddenly took his foot off the brake, so they parked a patrol car in front of the vehicle and tried to chock its wheels, Wessel said.

Before officers could get the chocks in place, the man awoke and his car rolled forward into the police cruiser, Wessel said.

No one was hurt and the collision caused minimal damage, according to police.

Officers arrested Osvaldo Baltazar, 45, of Costa Mesa on suspicion of misdemeanor driving under the influence, Wessel said.