An Edinburg man was drinking at the Jaguars Club before crashing into the Hidalgo County Courthouse Saturday morning while driving 70 mph, according to a probable cause affidavit for his arrest.
Court records indicate Jorge Hugo Contreras, 21, has a history of driving while intoxicated and had been arrested in 2019 and 2021 for similar charges.
Contreras was charged with driving while intoxicated with a previous conviction, unlawful carrying a firearm and duty on striking a fixture for the Saturday crash.
In two prior instances, he was also charged with resisting arrest and in 2019, he was charged with assaulting a public servant.
According to the complaint, Edinburg officers Samuel Rodriguez Jr. and Estevan Salinas were dispatched to 10th Avenue and West University Drive in reference to a major accident and a man who attempted to flee the scene at about 6:32 a.m.
Upon arrival, Rodriguez observed a white Ford F-150 that crashed into a generator after it went through the courthouse’s metal gate on the west side of the building.
Contreras was held down by an unknown bystander prior to the police’s arrival, according to a press release.
When asked how much he had to drink, Contreras responded that he had five beers, two Crown with Cokes and was at Jaguars Club prior to the crash, according to the affidavit.
Rodriguez smelled an odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from Contreras’ breath and asked him how fast he was going.
“Jorge then stated that he was going about 70 miles per hour and lost control of the vehicle due to the wet roads,” the complaint said.
When Contreras consented to provide a specimen of his breath, his blood alcohol concentration was .108 percent, according to the complaint.
Officer Daniela Galvan advised Rodriguez that she recovered a .9mm Sig Sauer Model M1920 handgun from inside the vehicle, the complaint said.
Contreras was then transported to the Edinburg Police Department.
A news release stated that Contreras drove through protective iron gates at the courthouse and hit a secondary fence surrounding an air-conditioning unit.
“Severe damage was sustained to the F-150, along with the gate/fence, and a concrete pillar,” the release stated.
Contreras bailed out of the Hidalgo Adult Detention Center on $35,000 in bonds the following day.
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21-year-old suspected drunk driver crashes into Hidalgo County Courthouse
