MODESTO MAN ARRESTED AFTER FLEEING DUI CRASH
A 35-year-old Modesto man was arrested Friday evening after he hit a car while he was allegedly driving intoxicated and attempting to run away from the scene.
At 8:40 p.m., Ceres Police Officer Gary Singh was dispatched to a hit-and-run traffic collision in the area of Hatch and Mitchell roads. The responsible driver, later determined to be Ernan Vargas, exited a Toyota Rav4 and fled on foot in the parking lot of a nearby shopping center. Officer Singh began checking the area and located Vargas near the intersection of Alphonse Drive and Rita Lane. During Officer Singh suspected Vargas was under the influence of alcohol, prompting a DUI investigation. At the conclusion of the investigation, Vargas was arrested and provided breath samples that showed his blood alcohol concentration was double the legal limit to drive.
Vargas was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety on charges of DUI and fleeing the scene of an accident.
The arrest was one of 13 total DUIs for the reporting period of July 14-20.
DRUG ARREST MADE ON HERNDON ROAD
A 52-year-old Modesto man faces a number of drug charges following his Wednesday, July 15 arrest.
At approximately 11:55 a.m., Ceres Police Officer Romy McClain was patrolling the 1500 block of Herndon Road when he spotted Raymond Antonio behind the Chevron station at 1501 Herndon Road. The officer saw Antonio holding a piece of tinfoil in his hand and appeared to be falling asleep while standing up. As Officer McClain approached on foot, Antonio became alert and attempted to discard the foil. Officer McClain retrieved it and found it had burnt residue as well as a rock-like substance suspected of being fentanyl. Antonio was arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with two or more priors and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center.
EMPIRE MAN JAILED ON DRUG CHARGE, WARRANTS
On Friday at 1:07 p.m., Officer Charles Lord-Huff was patrolling businesses in the 1600 block of Hatch Road when he spotted Parker Cushing, 39, an Empire man with whom he was familiar and his arrest warrants, standing next to a vehicle in the parking lot. Officer Lord-Huff arrested Cushing on four misdemeanor warrants, three of which were related to prior narcotics arrests and one for shoplifting.
During a body search of Cushing, officers located a small glass jar containing a hard, white substance suspected as fentanyl. Cushing was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center for the warrants and a new charge possession of a controlled substance.
