Gilroy developer James Suner, 44, was arrested amid the chaos of
the Hummingbird and Whitehurst fires after grappling with a
sheriff’s deputy while trying to prepare his home for the impending
fire. He attributed his arrest to the
”
bizarre
”
and
”
extremely unusual circumstances
”
of the evening and an already stressful situation that got out
of control.
Gilroy developer James Suner, 44, was arrested amid the chaos of the Hummingbird and Whitehurst fires after grappling with a sheriff’s deputy while trying to prepare his home for the impending fire. He attributed his arrest to the “bizarre” and “extremely unusual circumstances” of the evening and an already stressful situation that got out of control.
“Everyone overreacted,” he said.
Suner was arrested Saturday for driving while intoxicated, vandalism and resisting arrest, Lt. Dalia Rodriguez confirmed.
Suner had been enjoying his Saturday night with friends at several parties that evening before catching a ride home when the flames threatened his house on Soma Way, near Kirigin Cellars.
“I just spent the last two and a half years of my life building that house,” Suner said. “The flames were burning within 100 yards of my house. The fire was literally coming straight toward my house.”
In the process of turning off valves, opening gates and working to evacuate his family, he was approached by a sheriff’s deputy who was notifying residents that voluntary evacuations were in order. According to the deputy’s report, a truck was blocking the private roadway to Suner’s property and the authorities wanted access.
Suner proved to be uncooperative and drove his vehicle “at a high rate of speed and almost collided with the patrol vehicle,” Rodriguez said. The deputy could tell he was intoxicated and placed him under arrest, she said. When he didn’t obey, the deputy pepper sprayed Suner and placed him in the back of the patrol car. While the deputy was looking for water to wash out Suner’s eyes, Suner kicked out the window of the patrol car. Hence, the vandalism charge, Rodriguez said.
“It felt like having a lit cigar put in my eyes,” Suner said. “I’ve never done that before. I’m a calm, cool professional.” He said the deputy refused to give render first aid and that he didn’t receive medical attention until a supervising officer arrived.
“The last thing that popped into my mind was that I should call a cab to drive me to the end of my driveway,” Suner said. “Can you really get a DUI for driving a truck on your own property?”
Apparently, yes, according to Rodriguez.
“It doesn’t matter that he was on a private road,” she said. “By law, any person driving a vehicle while intoxicated, on a public or private road, gives us the right to arrest you.”
