HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A man was accused of driving while impaired while having a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old as passengers.
Richo Felix Cruz, 22, was charged Monday in the Superior Court of Guam with driving while impaired with a child under 16 on board as a third-degree felony, driving while impaired as a misdemeanor and reckless driving while impaired as a petty misdemeanor.
According to the magistrate’s complaint, Cruz’s charges stem from an officer with the Guam Police Department, a little after midnight on Monday morning, seeing a dark-colored vehicle turning onto Route 10 in Barrigada before revving his engine and causing the vehicle to drift between the outside and inner lanes while other vehicles were present.
The police subsequently activated their lights and siren when the vehicle picked up speed. According to the complaint, the officer’s catch-up speed was 61 miles per hour before the car came to a stop by Untalan Middle School, where Cruz was identified as the driver.
In the car, three passengers were identified and two of them were minors, ages 2 and 3 years old. The officer also smelled alcohol coming from Cruz’s breath, and observed that Cruz’s eyes were bloodshot and watery, according to the complaint.
The complaint stated Cruz said “no” when asked if he was willing to submit to a sobriety test.
The adult passenger in the car, when interviewed by police, said Cruz and his passengers came from a gathering in Mongmong where Cruz allegedly drank three beers.
A police vehicle is parked in front of the Guam Police Department headquarters on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Tiyan.
