A drunk driver took police on a chase from southwest Gilroy to
San Martin Monday, reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph until he
pulled over on the highway for no apparent reason, police said.
A drunk driver took police on a chase from southwest Gilroy to San Martin Monday, reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph until he pulled over on the highway for no apparent reason, police said.
A motorist noticed Raul Granados, 32, about 7:15 p.m. driving a 2006 white Ford van erratically into Gilroy from Hecker Pass Highway. Police located the speeding vehicle within minutes a mile north, near Hirasaki Avenue and Longmeadow Drive. An officer attempted to stop Granados, who lives along the 8500 block of Wren Avenue and had a suspended license at the time, “but he did not want to stop and continued,” Sgt. Jim Gillio said.
The chase continued north on Santa Teresa Boulevard and crossed over to Monterey Road, where Granados led three officers to San Martin Avenue in speeds in excess of 100 mph, Gillio said. After he turned onto U.S. 101 heading north, the suspect pulled over and an officer rammed his car into the driver door to prevent Granados from fleeing.
“There was a lot of traffic at the time, and these guys usually always run,” Gillio said.
With their guns drawn, officers attempted to coax the man out of the van, but he resisted and they had to forcibly remove him, Gillio said. No electronic stun guns were used, and Granados did not have any passengers.
Police charged Granados, who did not cause any damage to any property during the chase, with driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license and assault with a deadly weapon. Granados did not have a weapon on his person, but Gillio said police probably arrested him for assault because of his dangerous driving.
