El Paso residents found themselves in an unusual light show in the early hours of January 5 when a pickup truck, missing a tire and running on its rim, sent sparks flying along Westway Boulevard. According to a social media post by El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte, deputies who observed the spectacle attempted a traffic stop around 1:26 a.m., but the driver had other plans. Despite the glaring emergency lights and resounding sirens, he pushed on before eventually relenting to the persistent chase of the law.
The driver's determination to evade didn't last forever, and in the end, it was the 600 block of Westway Boulevard that saw the sparks come to a halt. Here, the El Paso deputies executed what is known as a felony stop, a cautious approach to ensure the situation stayed under control, and thankfully, the driver complied. He was taken into custody without any further incident. The post by Sheriff Ugarte went on to state that upon investigation, deputies noted signs of intoxication. Jorge Aguirre, the 51-year-old at the helm of this very literal rough ride, failed the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests presented to him.
Acceding to the consequences of his act, Aguirre consented to breath tests, which yielded results of 0.158 and 0.157, significantly over the legal limit. These numbers manifest a story beyond the sparks, embodying a risk not just to Aguirre but to any and all in his potential path. The man now faces charges including Driving While Intoxicated with a BAC of 0.15 or greater and Evading Arrest or Detention with a Vehicle. Each count carries a bond of $5,000, amounting to a total of $10,000 required for his release pending trial.
