Police K-9 Captures Fleeing DUI Suspect

A Largo man was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after crashing his Mercedes in a median on south Clearwater Beach, according to police.

A Clearwater Police officer heard Ivo N. Santos' crash a Mercedes into a median near the intersection of South Gulfview Boulevard and Gulf Boulevard around 2:12 a.m. Tuesday, according to police.

The officer found that Santos had taken out palm trees, landscaping and signage, totaling the Mercedes.

Santos, 29, exited the vehicle then fled, police said. Santos was found hiding behind a nearby hotel by two K-9 teams, according to investigators.

Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies came to the scene because Santos also fled from them near Indian Rocks Beach.

Santos was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crime with property damage, driving while license is suspended or revoked, obstructing an officer without violence. Other charges from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office are pending, according to Clearwater Police.