Driver in crash was under influence
One of the drivers involved in an accident was found to be under the influence, police said.
The accident happened early in the evening on June 14 at the intersection of Oakland and Highland avenues. Piedmont Police Department officers responded to the scene around 5:20 p.m. Two cars were damaged in the intersection.
Police were told that one of the drivers had hidden “a bag of alcohol” in a bush after the accident, according to Piedmont Police Department Captain Chris Monahan. He said that driver, identified as Mario Arias, was showing signs of being under the influence. A field sobriety test was administered and Monahan said Arias unsuccessfully completed it. Preliminary blood screening tests turned up readings of 0.225 and 0.228 percent. A blood-draw warrant was obtained.
Arias was arrested and taken to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. He was on probation for DUI and was charged with the DUI, getting a second DUI in 10 years and a probation violation.
On June 13, an unidentified suspect entered a construction site on Ronada Avenue and took $5,800 worth of tools. The suspect entered the site between 3:08-4:15 a.m. A traffic camera captured a gray Honda Element that stopped at the site with California license plate 8JAC472 and is possibly related to the crime, according to Captain Monahan.
Sometime between 8:30 p.m. on June 8 and 9:30 a.m. on June 9, an unidentified suspect entered a residence on Moraga Avenue through an open kitchen window. The victim was not home, according to Captain Monahan. The suspect allegedly ate the victim’s food, took a shower and stole $1,200 worth of property.
On June 11, a single-car accident was reported at 9:37 p.m. on Scenic Avenue. Officers arrived and found a black 2021 Mini Cooper that collided with a concrete pole. The driver was uninjured and declined medical assistance. However, the officer determined the driver was showing signs of being under the influence, according to Captain Monahan.
The driver required assistance to stand and could not complete a field sobriety test. A preliminary alcohol screening test returned results of 0.25 and 0.26 percent blood alcohol level, according to Captain Monahan.
The driver was taken to Santa Rita Jail and a chemical breath test showed he had a BAL of 0.24 percent, according to Captain Monahan. He was charged with DUI.
At 2:51 p.m. on June 10, a 2001 Kawasaki ZR-7S motorcycle was reported stolen from the sidewalk on Blair Avenue. The motorcycle was later found on Scenic and returned to its registered owner.