Several DUI and drug arrests and accidents with injuries made the minor Columbus Day holiday weekend a busy one for Morgan Hill police.
On Friday night, just before 10 p.m., officers arrested Stephen Fuentes, 52, of Morgan Hill, on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was immediately driven to San Jose Regional Medical Center by ambulance with a severe laceration to his nose, according to Morgan Hill police Cmdr. David Swing.
Fuentes had a preliminary blood alcohol content level of .28, more than three times the legal limit of .08, Swing said.
Fuentes was allegedly driving down Llagas Avenue in the Woodland Acres area when he drove off the road into a creekbed.
Later that night, the department's street crimes team was checking area hotels for drug activity when, at approximately 11 p.m., they found two men allegedly smoking methamphetamine in the parking lot of the Ramada Inn on Condit Road.
Jose Diaz, 25, and Ken Kortright, 29, were cited and released on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance and alleged possession of drug paraphernalia.
On Sunday night at approximately 9:20 p.m., officers responded to a report that a truck had run into a tree. Swing said Kelly Schafer, 39, of Morgan Hill, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence when she failed to perform field sobriety tests at the scene. It was reported that Schafer was seen northbound on Hill Road approaching East Dunne Avenue allegedly at a high rate of speed, continued to speed on East Dunne Avenue at approximately 55-60 mph and then turned across double yellow lines at Sorrel Way. Her vehicle went over the curb and into a tree, Swing said, but there was minimal damage to the vehicle.
Schafer was booked into Santa Clara County Jail.
Later that night, just after midnight on Monday, Morgan Hill police officer Carson Thomas was on Monterey Road at Spring Avenue when Leo D. Solario, 36, of San Jose, pulled out in front of him and drove in front of him at 10 mph, weaving and crossing over into the other lane. Thomas turned on his lights to pull Solario over, Swing said, but Solario continued driving. He finally stopped at Monterey Road and Vineyard Boulevard and allegedly stumbled out of the car, wandering into the road.
Solario was booked into county jail on suspicion of driving under the influence, failure to yield and driving without a license. He also had a prior DUI charge, according to police.
The following afternoon, what officers thought would be a routine DUI turned out to be a possible elder abuse case.
Guadalupe Tellez, 47, of San Jose, was booked into county jail on suspicion of driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license, vehicle theft, burglary, possession of stolen property and unauthorized use of an ATM card.
At approximately 2:30 p.m., Tellez exited from southbound U.S. 101 at Cochrane Road and failed to negotiate the turn, crashing into the center divide. Regional Auto Theft Task Force officer Kyle Christensen was investigating another case in the area and responded to the accident. Swing said a passerby had removed the keys from the ignition, fearing Tellez would attempt to drive away. Tellez was arrested, and in the course of investigating the case, officers found out that Tellez and his wife are caretakers for an 81-year-old woman and live in her home in San Jose. According to police, Tellez needed to get to Morgan Hill to pick up his car which had broken down, and he needed money to pay a mechanic to fix it. He allegedly went into the older woman's room and took the key to her vehicle and her ATM card, took her vehicle and then withdrew between $400-800 in cash.
"This is the perfect example of how what seems to be a run of the mill call can turn into something much more," Swing said.
Tellez could face elder abuse charges for allegedly committing crimes against a person over the age of 65.
Marilyn Dubil Marilyn Dubil covered education and law enforcement for The Times.
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