The Port St. Lucie Police Department was in action over the July 4th weekend, taking nine individuals into custody on charges of driving under the influence. While celebrating the nation's independence, the PSLPD's diligence possibly averted potential calamities on the roads, highlighted by the arrests of both severe and habitual offenders. In a statement shared by CBS12, the department focused on preventing tragedies before they could occur.
Among those apprehended, habitual offender Efrain Del Valle Fernandez was arrested after being pulled over near Veterans Memorial Pkwy for making an illegal U-turn. Caught with an empty alcohol bottle in his vehicle, Fernandez was already on the books with a revoked license since 2018. Rashen Ramon Jordan, located with a tequila bottle nearly empty, was discovered unresponsive in his car over double the legal alcohol limit. Stopped by officers, domestic disputes were also a factor this weekend, with Michael Pisano's arrest following one such altercation, the Port St. Lucie Police detailed on their Facebook page.
Other individuals ensnared in the safety net cast by PSLPD officers included Margiory De Los Angeles Filley, who, as reported by an observant community member, was found three times over the limit and with a beer in direct hand contact upon officers' arrival, and Erika Azucena Pretzanzin Garcia, who was discovered nearly thrice over the limit in a parked running vehicle on Airoso Blvd. Having claimed to be eating turmeric at the time of her stop, FSLPD also took into custody Tara Ream, believed to be en route to the PSL/Martin County border, after another member of the community reported her driving recklessly.
Amongst the others charged with DUI, Michael David Pipes, while involved in a neighbor dispute over fireworks, was reported to be over the limit twice, revealing that PSLPD's zero tolerance extends across various circumstances of impaired driving. Rolando Esparza, caught for speeding and having had eight large beers over the evening, suggested a persistent effort by the officers to keep the streets safe. "One D.U.I. arrest at a time, we will continue to enforce aggressive drivers, D.U.I. offenders and hold those accountable who choose criminal activity," the PSLPD affirmed.
