WATSONVILLE The Watsonville Police Department is crediting a quick-thinking convenience store clerk for the arrest of man who was driving his vehicle while intoxicated.
Armando Guerrero, 52, was charged with felony DUI, driving with a suspended license, giving false identification to police and a probation violation. He was booked into Santa Cruz County in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Guerrero was already on felony probation in Santa Cruz County for DUI.
He has five prior DUI convictions since 2008, the most recent being in November 2017. His driver’s license was suspended due to his prior DUI convictions, according to Watsonville Police Sgt. Mish Radich.
According to Radich, an employee of a store in the area of East Lake Avenue and Lincoln Street called to report an intoxicated male had attempted to purchase beer.
The employee refused the sale, and then called police when Guerrero got into his car and drove away, Radich said.
An officer who was close at the time of the call stopped Guerrero on Lincoln Street.
The officer determined that Guerrero was intoxicated, and he gave officers with a fake name and date of birth.
He was arrested after he failed sobriety tests, and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
Guerrero’s BAC was measured at .22/.24 during a breath test after his arrest, Radich said.
