Teen driver drunk twice, days apart

PAW PAW, Mich. (WOOD) - A teenager was arrested twice in a 48-hour span for allegedly being drunk while driving his vehicle.

Fernando Solis, 18, was arraigned Sept. 26 on charges of flee and eluding police, operating while intoxicate and minor in possession of alcohol, in connection with the latest incident. His bond was $5,000 and he was ordered to not be in any bars and/or consume alcohol.

It was 6:55 p.m. Sept. 25 when Van Buren County sheriff's deputies spotted the teen speeding in the 38000 block of Red Arrow Highway near Paw Paw. Police were traveling west and said the teen was driving 104 miles per hour eastbound in a Pontiac Grand Am.

Deputies tried to stop the vehicle but the Decatur teen did not obey. So a chase ensued and eventually ended at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Gremps Street in Paw Paw when Solis got caught up in a traffic jam.

"The suspect was taken into custody and a search warrant was obtained for his blood as clearly it was evident by arresting officers he was under the influence of alcohol," according to a news release.

Solis was not cooperative with deputies who discovered he had a fifth of cognac that was two-thirds empty, according to the sheriff's department.

Solis was also arrested Sept. 23 for operating while intoxicated, police said. He had left his preliminary hearing for that incident on Sept. 25 before this latest arrest occurred.