Man involved in police chase gets probation
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POCATELLO — A Utah man who admitted to leading officers on a chase through Pocatello before crashing into a police cruiser has been sentenced to probation.
Ceaser Ramon Rodriguez, 32, was given four years of probation by 6th District Judge Rick for a felony charge of fleeing an officer. The sentencing is part of a plea deal that included the dismissal of an aggravated battery charge Rodriguez received for crashing his car into a police vehicle.
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Officers responding to reports of a bar fight on March 5 were informed that two men who had been involved in altercations at two separate bars had fled in a black 2005 Ford Focus.
Police spotted the vehicle a short time later, but when they tried to pull over the driver, later identified as Rodriguez, he sped away. The chase reached speeds of more than 60 mph in residential areas and did not come to an end until Rodriguez made a U-turn and sped back at pursuing officers, crashing into one of the cruisers while speeding up.
He failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for misdemeanor driving under the influence along with fleeing an officer and aggravated battery. Per a plea agreement reached with the Bannock County Prosecutor’s Office, the DUI and battery charges were dismissed.
Caranroli issued 120 days of discretionary prison time, meaning Rodriguez’s probation and parole officer will have the ability to jail Rodriguez should he fail to comply with restrictions. A prison sentence of 18 to 36 months was suspended.
In addition to probation, Rodriguez was ordered to pay $6,552.28 in fines.