By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Jesus Carlos Garcia

WINONA LAKE — A Winona Lake man was recently arrested after illegally driving a vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident.

Jesus Carlos Garcia, 44, 1202 Wooster Road Lot 4, Winona Lake, is charged with operating a vehicle after a lifetime suspension, a level 5 felony; resisting law enforcement, a level 6 felony; operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a class A misdemeanor; failure to stop after an accident, a class B misdemeanor; and reckless driving, a class C misdemeanor.

On Jan. 23, a Winona Lake Police officer responded to a hit-and-run vehicle accident involving two vehicles at Wooster Road and CR 250E. The driver of a gold Chevrolet Equinox involved in the accident left the scene without stopping.

According to court documents, the officer arrived at the scene and spoke with the other driver, who said the Equinox crossed the centerline, hit his vehicle and continued north without stopping. While the officer was speaking with the driver, a gold Chevrolet Equinox drove by the location. The officer saw the Equinox’s right side tires leave the roadway and travel up over a curb. 

The Equinox’s driver, later identified as Garcia, disregarded law enforcement as they attempted to pull the vehicle over.

Garcia’s motions appeared sluggish and imprecise, with officers smelling a strong odor of alcohol from Garcia’s person. County dispatch also advised Garcia’s driving status was habitual traffic violator for life. The Winona Lake officer further examined the Chevrolet Equinox and found damage consistent with what occurred to the other vehicle involved in the accident.

A portable breath test sample from Garcia registered a 0.234% BrAC. Garcia told officers he didn’t remember being involved in a vehicle accident.

Garcia’s driving privileges are suspended for life as a result of being convicted of operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator in Kosciusko County in September 2010.

For this case, Garcia has already been arrested and released on bond. He has an initial hearing at 1 p.m. Feb. 9, in Kosciusko Superior Court Three.