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DUI suspect arrested with loaded sawed-off rifle in trunk
Patterson man stopped in Ceres after driving slow, impeding traffic
Abel Silva DUI
Abel Silva

Abel Silva, 56, of Patterson was arrested on charges of DUI and possession of a short-barreled rifle after a Friday evening traffic stop.

At 10:37 p.m., Officer Kiashira Ruiz was eastbound on Service Road from Moffett Road when she noticed a Toyota Camry moving slowly and impeding other traffic. The driver was swerving and crossing the center line so she pulled the driver over.

Officer Ruiz could smell the alcohol on the driver’s breath and he appeared drunk. 

Field sobriety tests concluded that Silva was impaired and unable to safely operate a vehicle. His blood alcohol level was found to be one and a half times the legal limit.

During an inventory search of Silva’s car, a sawed-off .22 cal. rifle was located in the trunk.