Police: Local man arrested for leading officers on high-speed chase while driving drunk

POCATELLO — A 38-year-old local man was recently arrested after police say he eluded officers during a high-speed chase while driving drunk.

Juan Jose Mares-Najera, of Pocatello, has been charged with felony eluding as well misdemeanors for second-offense driving under the influence, possession of an open alcoholic beverage container and driving without a license following the incident.

A Pocatello police officer was on patrol in the area of Highway 30 and Hawthorne Road around 12:14 a.m. on July 30 when he observed a white Volkswagen Passat pass him while traveling north on Garrett Way at 78 mph on a street marked at 45 mph, according to police and court records the Idaho State Journal recently obtained.

The officer activated his overhead lights and sirens and attempted to stop the driver of the car, later identified as Mares-Najera, who fled at a high rate of speed, the report says.

Mares-Najera turned onto Ridge Street and nearly lost control of the vehicle, causing damage to the front bumper of the car, but continued fleeing, reaching speeds in excess of 80 mph on a residential street marked at 25 mph, police said.

At the intersection of Hawthorne Road and Ridge Street, Mares-Najera came to a stop and was ordered out of the vehicle, according to the report.

Mares-Najera told officers that he was speeding because he was late to his girlfriend’s house though he showed obvious signs of impairment, police said.

Mares-Najera refused to participate in standardized field sobriety tests, nor did he provide a blood alcohol sample via a breathalyzer test and was subsequently arrested for DUI refusal, according to the report.

Mares-Najera was then transported to the Bannock County Jail in Pocatello.

He made his initial appearance in court for an arraignment hearing on July 30, during which his bond was set at $30,000.

He is due back in court for a preliminary hearing for Aug. 13 where prosecutors will attempt to prove there is enough evidence against him to elevate the case from the magistrate to district court level for trial.

If convicted of the felony eluding charge, he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.