Contributed Photo/Courtesy SPD:
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – An alleged drunk driver was arrested Saturday, Nov. 17, after almost striking a marked police patrol vehicle while driving.
An officer reported the incident occurred at about 10:54 a.m. as he was on patrol eastbound in the 900 block of 20th Street. As the officer approached the intersection with 11th Avenue, he noticed a black Dodge pickup truck southbound on 11th Avenue.
According to a Safford Police report, the pickup truck failed to stop at the stop sign and the officer had to slam on his brakes to avoid a collision.
The truck then came to an abrupt stop in the westbound lane of 20th Street. The officer then directed the truck to pull over, but the driver of the truck, identified as Aaron Foster, 36, of Safford, waved the officer to drive on through.
The truck then continued into the eastbound lane of 20th street ahead of the officer and then eventually pulled over to the side of the road.
Upon inspection, Foster allegedly advised he had three shots of vodka about 30 minutes prior to driving. Foster began to go through a field test to determine if he was intoxicated, but after not performing well on the first two tests Foster declined to do anymore.
The officer then learned that Foster’s driver’s license was suspended and he was required to have an ignition interlock device installed on his vehicle. Since there was no such device, the regular DUI was upgraded to aggravated DUI. Foster was then arrested and transported to the Safford Police Department to have his blood drawn for testing purposes. Foster initially refused to submit to the blood draw, but the officer obtained a warrant and the blood was taken.
During a tow inventory of the truck, an officer located items commonly used to ingest methamphetamine.
After the officer placed the blood evidence in storage, he transported Foster to his residence and released him. Charges are pending test results and review by the County Attorney’s Office.
