Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: German Sarabia, 26, was arrested and booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on charges of DUI, unlawful flight from pursuing law enforcement, and endangerment.
Brother in separate vehicle also arrested for DUI
By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – A night out at a party turned into trouble early Sunday morning as two brothers were both arrested on DUI charges as one of them fled from a pursing deputy and the other chased after his brother.
German Sarabia, 26, was arrested and booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on charges of DUI, unlawful flight from pursuing law enforcement, and endangerment. His brother, Erland Sarabia, 25, was also arrested on DUI charges.
According to a Graham County Sheriff’s Office report, a deputy was patrolling U.S. Highway 191 at about 1:06 a.m. near Roper Lake Road when he observed a vehicle cross into the median multiple times.
As the vehicle turned left onto Roadrunner Street, the deputy attempted to make a traffic stop but instead accelerated to between 40-45 mph in a 25-mph zone and at one point ran off onto the dirt shoulder as it continued to a stop sign at the intersection with Pommel Street.
The deputy activated his siren but the vehicle continued on Pommel Street until German arrived at a residence, where he drove to the rear and then got out of the vehicle. German was then placed under arrest at gunpoint and the officer noted he could smell a strong odor of alcohol on German.
German’s front passenger advised that they had been drinking earlier at a party and that his brother, Erland, had gotten mad and left the party. The woman said she told German to take her and her children home because German had gotten into an argument with his girlfriend. Two juveniles were located in the back seat of the vehicle.
German allegedly told the deputy that he was “well within his rights” to continue to drive until he had a safe place to pull over and that he hadn’t broken any laws.
While the deputy was explaining the arrest to German, another vehicle approached at a high rate of speed, according to the report. The vehicle skidding to a stop near the deputy’s patrol vehicle and Erland exited and began question loudly why his brother was being arrested. Erland allegedly said German was only trying to catch up to him and told the deputies to release German and arrest him instead.
Noticing an odor of alcohol coming from Erland, a deputy took him into custody and arrested him for DUI. After taking a blood sample for testing purposes, Erland was later released.
After receiving a warrant to do so, a blood sample was also taken from German, who was booked into jail on the above-listed charges. The deputy also contacted the Department of Child Services to file a report regarding child endangerment stemming from the pursuit.
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