YAVAPAI COUNTY, AZ – A Northern Arizona man is due in court Thursday after his arrest for nearly colliding with a sheriff’s vehicle while driving drunk.
Oscar R. Zelaya, 47, of Sedona, was arrested Saturday in Oak Creek Village after Sheriff's deputies said he almost hit a sheriff’s vehicle with his Chevrolet truck.
According to Sheriff's spokesperon Dwight D'Evelyn, a YCSO volunteer was patrolling the parking lot of the Tequa Festival Marketplace in a fully marked sheriff’s car.
Zelaya reportedly rounded the side of a building in his truck and nearly struck the vehicle.
D'Evelyn said the volunteer suspected the driver to be under the influence, and requested deputy assistance as he followed Zelaya out of the parking lot and onto Highway 179.
Zelaya reportedly swerved back and forth along the highway until finally stopping at an apartment complex in Cortez Drive.
According to authorities, deputies responded to the volunteers’ call and contacted Zelaya at the scene.
A strong smell of alcohol was detected coming from the vehicle and Zelaya had
bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, said D'Evelyn.
Deputies reportedly had to physically support Zelaya as he exited his vehicle to prevent him from losing his balance.
Zelaya refused to take a sobriety test and was arrested on the scene, according to D'Evelyn. He later submitted to a breath test and his blood alcohol level reportedly carried a .266 reading, three times over the legal limit.
Zelaya was transported to the Camp Verde Detention Center on felony charges of aggravated DUI and endangerment. He is now in-custody on a $1500 bond.
