A 48-year-old Modesto man was arrested on a charge of drunken driving on Tuesday evening, Oct. 7.

At 10:24 p.m., Ceres Police Sergeant Julop Amador was patrolling the area of Central Avenue near Pine Street when he stopped Juan Moreno Encino, 48, of Modesto, driving a Chevrolet Malibu for vehicle code violations. 

During his contact with Encino, Sgt. Amador suspected he was under the influence of alcohol. While speaking to Encino, still in the driver’s seat, he sped off and a pursuit was initiated. Encino fled southbound on Central Avenue and while making an eastbound turn onto Service Road, lost control and collided into a semi-truck pulling a trailer. The crash made Encino’s car inoperable. 

Encino was arrested and a search turned up a baggy containing a white powdery substance, suspected of being cocaine.

He was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charges of evading police in a vehicle, DUI, possession of a controlled substance and driving a vehicle without a license.