On Monday, March 4 at approximately 1:30 a.m. Sapulpa Police Officer Jason Hedges while on nightly patrol observed a black truck traveling south on 49th West Avenue in Tulsa. The truck went through the stop sign at Skelly Drive without stopping and attempted to go eastbound, but sped through the intersection, and jumped a curb, almost hitting a road sign.
Officer Hedges activated his emergency lights in an attempt to detain the driver of the truck, but the driver continued driving eastbound, so he also activated his siren. The truck eventually stopped at America’s Best Value Inn on Skelly Drive.
The driver was identified as German Rodriguez, Jr. (Defendant). Hedges smelled alcohol coming from his breath and noted he was slurring his speech and had bloodshot, watery eyes. He determined from this and the way he had been driving that the Defendant was under the influence of alcohol.
Officer Hedges had a difficult time trying to speak to the Defendant and trying to get him to perform sobriety tests. The Defendant said “Sir, I’m drunk, sir,” and repeatedly asked, “Can I just make it home, please?” Eventually he refused to participate in the tests. He also would not agree to take a breath test to gauge his blood alcohol level.
Further confirming his theory that the Defendant had been drinking, Officer Hedges found a ¼ full can of beer in his center console while performing an inventory of his vehicle.
Rodriguez was arrested for driving while under the influence, carrying an open container, and failure to stop at a stop sign.
A criminal background search revealed another DUI out of Texas in January of this year.
