In a four-day span, the Cortez Police Department arrested three individuals suspected of driving under the influence in Cortez, including one who almost struck a minor McDonald’s employee in the restaurant parking lot.
On Oct. 13, police pulled over Michael Biasizzo for a broken headlight on 1800 Main Street near Henry Street and Main. After allegedly trying to evade officers, Biasizzo pulled over and stepped out of the vehicle as officers requested.
Sgt. Michael Moran said Biasizzo’s breath smelled of alcohol, his eyes were glassy, and he was standing unsteadily.
Upon further inspection, Biasizzo’s license plate did not match the car he was driving, and officers found a half-empty bottle of Chelada Tall Boy, a marijuana jar, marijuana pipe, Colt semi-automatic handgun and several empty bottles of alcohol in the vehicle.
After Biasizzo was arrested, Moran later found out that he had nearly struck a minor McDonald’s employee who was walking through the parking lot before he was pulled over by Moran.
On Oct. 17, Detective Traci Mueller pulled over a car she observed driving recklessly near 300 W. Empire on Empire and Broadway Streets. Jacqueline Ware and passenger Lastelle Wall were both in the vehicle, and Wall told police she had attempted to get out of the vehicle after realizing Ware was drunk, but she wouldn’t let her get out.
Once out of the vehicle, Ware told police she was drunk, which police observed because of her glassy eyes and slurred words. She also had blood around her mouth, telling police she had been punched at a party.
Police also discovered a 200 ml bottle of Arrow Peppermint Schnapps in the driver side door of the car, and it was about a fourth full.
Because she didn’t adequately pass roadside maneuvers and was driving without a valid driver’s license, Ware was arrested.
That same day, officer Michael Rivas pulled over a car going 43 mph in a 25 mph zone at 815 E. Main St.
Rivas arrested Arjun Desai for suspected DUI after failing to complete roadside maneuvers satisfactorily, despite Desai telling Rivas that he wasn’t drunk.
The Cortez Police Department urges citizens to report and call in suspected drunken drivers in the area to help save lives.
