When Edcouch police pulled over a black SUV that authorities say was speeding last week, the suspect allegedly tried to bribe and then threaten police, landing him in jail on additional charges.
Police were dispatched around 11:34 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, in response to a call about a reckless driver, identified in a probable cause affidavit as Jose Santana Rivera Jr., headed east on State Highway 107 from the Buckhorn Bar and Grill located at 506 Santa Rosa Ave. in Edcouch.
The 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe was spotted driving at a “high rate of speed,” down the 200 block of West SH 107 where the speed limit is 30 miles per hour. Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop which Rivera ignored and continued to flee police, according to the affidavit.
Authorities pursued Rivera into Edcouch and La Villa until a La Villa police unit intercepted the Tahoe, causing the driver to stop at a nearby Stripes convenience store.
When police approached the vehicle, Edcouch police recognized the driver from prior incidents, the affidavit said. Rivera has previously been arrested by the Edcouch and Elsa police departments six times since 2013 on various charges.
Once in police custody, Rivera claimed he hadn’t seen police trying to stop him; however, authorities said he then attempted to bribe the arresting officer by offering $200 to release him.
The arresting officer told Rivera that “he was now bribing me,” and that the suspect then threatened them, according to the affidavit.
“Rivera then asked me to not impound his truck, he stated he didn’t have money to pay the impound,” the affidavit stated, further noting that Rivera called his mother to pick up the Tahoe.
He was booked Friday on evading arrest, bribery, terroristic threat and reckless driving, and remains held on $95,000 in bonds.
