Rohnert Park DUI Checkpoint Nets 11 Suspected DUI Motorists

A DUI Checkpoint conducted on Saturday night netted 11 arrests.

The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Traffic Team setup the checkpoint at east Rohnert Park Expressway near State Farm Drive, from 6 p.m., to 1 a.m., Sunday, according to police.

"The purpose of this checkpoint operation was to inform the motoring public of the dangers associated with impaired driving and to take enforcement action against impaired drivers and those driving with a suspended license or no license at all," a Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety press release stated.

In all 1,368 vehicles passed through Saturday's checkpoint; Officers screened 1,358 of those vehicles for DUI and drivers' licenses.

"A total of 29 drivers were directed into a nearby parking area for further contact with officers for either DUI evaluation or driver’s license checks," police said.

Eleven motorists were arrested and out of the 11, one driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI, being a habitual DUI driver, driving on a suspended license and having an outstanding $25,000 warrant for DUI; two motorists were arrested on suspicion of driving with a suspended license; seven were arrested on suspicion of driving without a license, and one was arrested on suspicion of violation of probation and driving without license.

Officers impounded one vehicle.

The following is a list of the individuals arrested Saturday. All of the individuals arrested are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law:
(Info from the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety)

At 6:35pm, Jacinto Horta, age 37, from Santa Rosa, was driving in the vicinity of the checkpoint when a Good Samaritan who was following him noticed he was swerving all over the road, running red lights, driving off of the roadway. At one point he stopped his car in the middle of the road and lay slumped over the wheel. He was stopped by Officer Miller from Rohnert Park DPS. Mr. Horta displayed signs of intoxication. A records check revealed he did not have a license, was on probation and had an outstanding DUI warrant for $25000 in Sonoma County. Horta is a 2x repeat DUI offender and was supposed to have an ignition interlock device attached to his car. Horta did not have the device and was determined to be drunk behind the wheel. His preliminary blood alcohol level was .25% which is three times the legal limit of .08%. Jacinto Horta was arrested for drunk driving, having the warrant, not having an ignition interlock device, being a habitual drunk driver and violating his probation. His was booked in the Sonoma County Jail and his car was subsequently towed.

At 6:43pm, Eulalio Salanis-Torres, age 52, from Petaluma, entered the checkpoint and was unable to provide a license. He was directed to the secondary area where a records check revealed he was unlicensed as well as on probation in Sonoma County for being an unlicensed driver. He was arrested for both being unlicensed as well as violating his probation. He was released on a promise t appear; however, the vehicle he was driving was towed.

At 6:50pm, Kevin Brunton, age 20, from Cotati, was about to enter the checkpoint when he made an illegal right turn just prior to the entrance of the checkpoint. A gave the officer an expired driver’s license and was subsequently arrested. He was released with a promise to appear and his vehicle was released to a licensed driver.

At 7:03pm, officers saw a Dodge van in the checkpoint line. A male driver got out of the driver’s seat and switched with the female passenger in the rear. They approached the screening line and were directed to the secondary screening area. Darren Lopez, age 36, from Santa Rosa, was seated in the rear of the van. He said he got in the back because his mother had to drive because of a medical condition. Lopez’ record retuned he had a suspended driver’s license as well as an outstanding $2500 warrant for driving on a suspended license. He was arrested for driving on a suspended license as well as the warrant. Normally the car would have been towed considering Lopez is habitual at driving on a suspended license; however, they had a small child in the car and were able to get a licensed driver to take them home.

At 7:35pm, Jose Ortiz, age 39, from Santa Rosa, entered the check point. He was unable to produce a valid driver’s license and was directed to a secondary screening area. A records check revealed he had a suspended license for DUI. He was arrested for driving unlicensed and issued a promise to appear. His vehicle was released to a licensed driver.

At 8:00pm, Jose Olvera, age 42, from Rohnert Park, entered the check point. He was unable to produce a valid driver’s license and was directed to a secondary screening area. A records check revealed he was an unlicensed driver as well as had no insurance. He was arrested for driving unlicensed and issued a promise to appear. His vehicle was released to a licensed driver.

At 8:35pm, Pablo Cortez-Cruz, age 49, from Sonoma, entered the check point. He was unable to produce a valid driver’s license and was directed to a secondary screening area. A records check revealed he was an unlicensed driver. He was arrested for driving unlicensed and issued a promise to appear. His vehicle was released to a licensed driver.

At 9:15pm, Marta Ramirez-Gonzalez, age 43, from Petaluma, entered the check point. She was unable to produce a valid driver’s license and was directed to a secondary screening area. A records check revealed she was an unlicensed driver as well as had no insurance. She was arrested for driving unlicensed and issued a promise to appear. Her vehicle was released to a licensed driver.

At 9:30pm, Barbara Navarro, age 49, from Santa Rosa, entered the check point. She was unable to produce a valid driver’s license and was directed to a secondary screening area. A records check revealed she had a suspended driver’s license for DUI or drugs. She was arrested for driving on a suspended license and issued a promise to appear. Her vehicle was released to a licensed driver.

At 9:00pm, Ivan Lopez, age 25, from Healdsburg, entered the check point. He was unable to produce a valid driver’s license and was directed to a secondary screening area. A records check revealed he was an unlicensed driver as well as had no insurance. He was arrested for driving unlicensed and issued a promise to appear. His vehicle was released to a licensed driver.

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