Man reaches speeds of over 100 mph in town to avoid DUI, deputies say
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IDAHO FALLS — Law enforcement stopped an Idaho Falls man with spike strips after he is alleged at reaching speeds over 100 mph while trying to avoid police
Frederico Shigley Rodriguez Jr., 29, is charged with felony eluding, misdemeanor charges of reckless driving, driving without privileges and driving under the influence. According to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, the incident involving Rodriguez happened Tuesday after police tried to pull him over for speeding.
Shortly after 11 p.m., Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies were parked near the Dutch Bros on Sunnyside Road when they heard over the radio that an Idaho Falls Police officer was trying to pull over a car near Sunnyside and South 15th East. The Pontiac was reportedly driving at 70 mph, and the officer did not give chase for safety reasons.
Another deputy was also in the area and said the same vehicle passed him going around 120 mph but did not stop. Just minutes later, another deputy saw the car going northbound on 15th East at about 80 mph.
“With the high rate of speed, reckless driving and the obvious neglect of public safety of this driver, I felt that this vehicle needed to be stopped before it seriously hurt or killed someone,” the deputy near Dutch Bros wrote in a report.
The parked deputy began heading west on Sunnyside and saw the car run a red light and turn eastbound into oncoming traffic on Sunnyside. The car swerved around traffic and got into the correct lanes.
The deputy then turned on his emergency lights with the oncoming car accelerating down Sunnyside up to 50 mph, according to the probable cause. With the Pontiac’s engine revving, the deputy grabbed his spike strips and threw them into the road.
“I observed the vehicle run over the spike strips and heard a loud hiss and popping sound coming from the tires,” the deputy said.
With the tires punctured, the Pontiac kept driving east on Sunnyside until stopping near the intersection of Sunnyside and Rich Lane. Law enforcement then took the driver, identified as Rodriguez, into custody.
“In the front driver’s seat was three containers of alcohol, which all appeared to be empty,” according to court documents. “In the driver’s side door was a bottle cap of what appeared to be from the same type of bottle found in the front seat.”
Deputies said they could smell alcohol on Rodriguez and took him to Idaho Falls Community Hospital for a medical clearance and blood draw. While there, Rodriguez began speaking with law enforcement.
“Fred stated that he had been in an argument with his fiancée earlier and that he was just trying to get to his parents (on 15th East) to rest,” the deputy writes in a report. “I asked why he ran, and he stated he didn’t want to get another DUI.”
Court records show that in October, Rodriguez was charged with felony eluding and misdemeanor DUI in Bonneville County for another incident. He has not entered a plea on any of those charges.
Deputies booked Rodriguez into the Bonneville County Jail, where he remains held on $25,000 bail.
Although charged with crimes, it does not necessarily mean that Rodriguez committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.