A Towaoc man was arrested for a fifth DUI case on Jan. 16, less than three weeks after he was arrested on suspicion of driving intoxicated during a car chase in Cortez.
Daniel S. Lehi, 38, appeared in Montezuma County Court on Jan. 23 with a scrape on his right elbow that Cortez police said he received during the arrest.
Lehi’s driving history shows four prior DUI arrests.
According to a Cortez Police Department incident report, an employee at McDonald’s called dispatch about 1:30 p.m. to report a man who almost fell when he exited his SUV. He then almost fell on the curb while trying to reach the door. Employees also reported smelling alcohol on the man. When he left, he reportedly backed his car into a wall.
A Cortez police officer located Lehi’s vehicle and said he ran a red light at the intersection of Main Street and Mildred Road. When the officer asked Lehi how much he had to drink, he said he might have swallowed some Listerine earlier.
After Lehi’s handcuffs were removed for sobriety tests, he allegedly fled on foot down Mildred Road. A sergeant and an officer caught him, and he resisted, the police report said. Three officers were on scene, according to a police report.
Lehi was arrested on charges of DUI, driving under restraint, driving without insurance, resisting arrest and running a red light.
For the earlier DUI and car chase, on Dec. 29, Lehi faces charges of DUI, second-degree assault for spitting on a police officer, vehicular eluding, reckless driving, obstructing a peace officer, open container, failure to show proof of insurance and failure to yield right of way.
Deputy District Attorney Sheena Goldsborough in Montezuma County Court on Wednesday said there is an outstanding felony plea deal, signaling that there will not be a misdemeanor offer. The Dec. 29 case was bound over to 22nd Judicial District Court.
sdolan@the-journal.com
