Repeat offender charged with DWI

GONZALES — A local man ended up behind bars Sunday morning after officers said he drove drunk, swerving all over the road.

At 5:55 a.m. Nov. 15, Officer Dustin Kincaid was patrolling the 700 block of St. Joseph Street when he heard a vehicle squealing its tires, Capt. Allen Taylor reported. He turned to see a black Ford pickup turn right on St. Joseph, heading north, again squealing its tires and taking off at a high rate of speed.

Kincaid pursued as the truck crossed the center lane several times, turning west on Cone St. The driver continued to drive erratically until Kincaid pulled him over, identifying him as Luis Mendez Zuniga, 44, of Gonzales. While speaking with Zuniga the officer noticed the smell of alcohol coming from his breath, and that his eyes were bloodshot and glassy. Another driver pulled up and told Kincaid he saw Zuniga strike a vehicle parked on Cone St., Taylor said.

When the officer attempted to arrest Zuniga for DWI, Zuniga began to resist, turning to face Kincaid. After a brief struggle the officer was able to get him in handcuffs. A background check revealed Zuniga had been convicted of driving while intoxicated twice before.

Zuniga was taken to Gonzales County Jail, charged with felony DWI.

Case of assault, interfering with emergency call under investigation

At 7:05 a.m. Nov. 13, Officer Victor Izaguirre met with a victim at GPD who said she had gotten into an argument with her boyfriend, and that when she tried to call police he took her phone away from her. During the scuffle he hit the victim in the shoulder, and other men at the scene had to pull him off of her. He left the scene in a white Nissan four-door car, Taylor said. It was also reported that the man broke the windshield on the victim’s car.

The case will be forwarded to the county prosecutor’s office. The man is charged with criminal mischief, assault and interference with an emergency phone call.