A late-evening traffic stop in Weld County ended with a 33-year-old driver in custody after deputies say they found two children in the vehicle who were not properly restrained. The stop happened shortly before 10:30 p.m. on May 30 on U.S. Highway 85 at State Highway 392, north of Greeley. The driver faces multiple allegations, including DUI per se, driving under the influence, and two counts of child abuse by negligence. As with any arrest, those are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
According to the Weld County Sheriff's Office, a deputy first saw the vehicle traveling between lanes in the middle of the highway, then allegedly watched it move north in the southbound lanes before initiating a traffic stop. The post identifies the driver as S.F. Sintaro, 33, and says deputies suspected Sintaro may have been impaired during the encounter.
How The Stop Unfolded
In its social media post, the sheriff's office says the deputy found two children inside the car who were not properly restrained. Sintaro was arrested on suspicion of DUI per se, driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to drive in a single lane (weaving), failure to drive as required on a divided highway, and two counts of child abuse by negligence.
The post includes a mugshot of Sintaro and states that the sheriff's office is committed to keeping roads and the community safe by arresting individuals suspected of driving under the influence. The agency also reiterates that all charges are merely accusations and that any determination of guilt will be made in court, not on social media.
Charges And Legal Context
Under Colorado law, a "DUI per se" involves operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher under C.R.S. 42-4-1301, according to Justia. A conviction can bring both criminal penalties and administrative consequences for a driver's license.
Child abuse by negligence is addressed in C.R.S. § 18-6-401, detailed by Colorado Public Law. That statute can cover situations in which a child is permitted to be placed in circumstances that threaten the child’s life or health. Depending on the facts and whether any harm occurred, prosecutors may be able to pursue felony-level charges.
What Happens Next
Prosecutors will review the deputy's report and other evidence to decide what formal charges, if any, will be filed and when Sintaro will appear in court. The sheriff's post did not list any future court dates.
Anyone with information about the stop is asked to contact the Weld County Sheriff's Office tip line or public information office. Contact details are available on the Weld County Sheriff's Office website.
