×

Man charged with 2 felonies

FAIRMONT — A Fairmont man is facing felony charges in Martin County.

Angel Guadalupe Zavala Jr., 19, has been charged with two counts of criminal vehicular operation. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to the complaint:

At 8:20 p.m. June 19, Fairmont police officers were dispatched to the 1500 block of Albion Avenue in response to a report of a motor vehicle accident, where a vehicle had taken out a light pole and the occupants had fled the scene, running northbound.

Upon arrival, an officer observed a light pole in the street. About 10 houses down was a white Chevrolet Impala with obvious damage. The vehicle was unoccupied.

The officer was approached by a male later identified as Zavala, who directed him to the location of a victim behind a house. The victim was hurt and had an obvious compound fracture to his right arm.

Zavala provided his Minnesota driver’s license to an officer for identification and said he only had his driving permit. Zavala said he was the one driving the car, and also stated he was driving the speed limit when he lost control of the car and went into the yard.

The officer observed an odor of alcohol coming from Zavala, and asked if he had been drinking. Zavala denied drinking, but then said he had one beer about two hours earlier. The officer then had Zavala perform some field sobriety tests, which he failed.

The officer then gave Zavala a preliminary breath test, which indicated a blood alcohol content of .205. Zavala was placed under arrest for driving while under the influence of alcohol and transported to the Martin County Law Enforcement Center.

A search warrant was obtained to draw a sample of Zavala’s blood for testing, and Zavala was transported to the Mayo-Fairmont emergency room where a blood sample was drawn.

While at the Law Enforcement Center, the officer advised Zavala of his rights and Zavala indicated he understood and agreed to answer questions. Zavala again stated he was driving the motor vehicle, he was not speeding and that there was a problem with a tire while he was driving that caused the car to crash into the yard. Zavala said he had only one beer to drink and he had smoked marijuana earlier in the day.

Another officer at the scene spoke to a witness who stated she had seen the vehicle go up on the curb and take out a street light. She stated the vehicle then traveled a distance on the grass, going fast.

The officer then went to examine Zavala’s vehicle. The driver’s side rear tire was the only tire still inflated, and the front passenger tire was missing and was located about 10 feet from the vehicle. The driver and passenger side rims indicated extensive damage from driving over several blocks about one house away. It also appeared the oil pan had been destroyed when the vehicle went over a large rock, and there was extensive damage to front passenger side of the vehicle.

The officer followed the route the vehicle had taken and it did not appear there were any skid marks prior to the vehicle going up on the curb and striking the light pole. There was braking the entire distance after striking the pole until the vehicle’s final resting place. It appeared to the officer the vehicle had been going too fast and could not make the turn on the street.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.65/week.

Subscribe Today