A drunk driver initiated a police chase Sept. 18 by brazenly passing a patrol car on McCurdy Road, according to Española Police. The chase ended with the driver hiding under a truck and being stunned twice with a Taser.
Arnulfo Arras-Portillo, 32, of Española, allegedly sped past Sgt. Rick Martinez around 8 p.m. while weaving heavily from side to side, a police report states. After Martinez signalled for Arras-Portillo to pull over just south of Fairview Lane, he allegedly sped up and almost collided head-on with a car going northbound. Arras-Portillo then came to an abrupt skidding stop before jumping out the window of his Chevy Silverado truck and taking off on foot eastbound.
While Martinez followed on foot and gave repeated orders for Arras-Portillo to stop, the suspect jumped several fences while continuing to run eastbound, according to court documents. Martinez lost Arras-Portillo temporarily, then found him hiding under a truck on Tesuque Drive.
Arras-Portillo refused to show his arms and was dry stunned with a Taser before being shackled and handcuffed, according to a police use of force incident report form. While being handcuffed, Arras-Portillo began kicking the officers and was dry stunned again. Arras-Portillo allegedly kicked officer David Aveado in the back during the struggle. A total of four officers were called out to deal with Arras-Portillo, the form states.
Five empty beer cans were found in Arras-Portillo’s truck, and he emitted a strong smell of alcohol, the report states. He refused to attempt field sobriety tests and refused to submit to blood alcohol testing, so he was charged with aggravated DUI, in addition to reckless driving and resisting or obstructing an officer. Arras-Portillo was being held at Española Jail pending his arraignment.