Petaluma Man Jailed For DUI, Hit-And-Run Crash: Police

PETALUMA, CA — A Petaluma man landed himself in jail Sunday when he drove drunk and crashed into a car, police allege.

Petaluma police officers were dispatched at 10:43 p.m. Sunday to reports of a collision involving two vehicles in the 100 block of Post Street, according to Petaluma police Sgt. Mario Giomi.

A witness told police dispatchers one of the cars was parked and unoccupied while the driver of the other car was leaving the scene at a slow speed with parts falling off his blue sedan.

Officers followed a gouge in the roadway that started at the collision and continued to Douglas Street, where they found the blue sedan, Giomi said.

Officers approached the car and found one person inside: Rafael Lopez-Perez, 44, of Petaluma.

Lopez-Perez had objective signs of alcohol intoxication and showed impairment while performing field sobriety tests, Giomi said. The investigating officer determined Lopez-Perez was operating the car while under the influence of alcohol and placed him under arrest.

"It was later learned that Lopez-Perez had a blood alcohol content over 2 times the legal limit," Giomi said.

Lopez-Perez was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of driving under the influence and hit-and-run for the collision.

Records indicated Lopez-Perez was no longer in custody Tuesday.