A local man faces numerous motor vehicle and DUI charges after he struck a vehicle while being chased by police and then drove up an exit ramp to Route 9 during the high-speed pursuit.
Andres Garcia-Auz, 45, of 226 Woodbury Circle, was charged with failure to obey a control signal, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, improper entry on a controlled access highway, failure to drive in the proper lane, improper passing, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, evading responsibility, failure to obey an officer’s signal in an attempt to elude police, reckless driving, traveling too fast for conditions and driving with a suspended license.
According to the police report Garcia-Auz was driving north on Main Street Extension near Pleasant Street around 5:17 p.m. on Feb. 13 when police noticed smoke coming from the front-end of his “visibly damaged” Toyota Avalon.
Police sought to pull the car over but Garcia-Auz continued driving. While traveling down Williams Street at a high rate of speed, police said, Garcia-Auz attempted to drive in between two cars traveling in opposite directions on the road, striking one of the vehicles.
Garcia-Auz, kept going, traveling down DeKoven Drive where he attempted to drive up the Exit 14 off ramp of Route 9, police said. He traveled about 50 feet the wrong way down the highway before making a U-turn and then fleeing south down Route 9.
With police in pursuit, Garcia-Auz was weaving in and out traffic on Route 9 before police called off the chase near Exit 12. A few minutes later an officer found the grey Avalon stuck in a snowbank near Exit 11, police said.
After taking Garcia-Auz into custody, police said they found several beer cans in his car along with a cup of beer in the center console.
A sobriey test indicated Garcia-Auz’s blood alcohol level was .230.
He is scheduled to appear in Middletown Superior Court on Feb. 27.
Other recent Middletown arrests include:
Feb. 13
- Terrance L. Davis, 39, of 18 Portland St., was charged with disorderly conduct and violation of a protective order.
- Nicholas J. Carey, 24, of 1393 Saybrook Road, Middletown, was charged with violation of probation.
Feb. 11
- Stuart S. Desso, 46, of 1151 Washington St., Apt. D9, was charged with evading responsibility.
Feb. 10
- Richard Matos, 19, of 67 Gilbert Road, Meriden, was charged with operating an unregistered motor vehicle and failure to carry insurance.
