HARLINGEN — A Harlingen Police Department car was hit by a man under the influence this past week, police said.
According to a press release by the department, on April 2 around 12:35 a.m. a Harlingen police officer was driving on West Tyler approaching “F” Street.
As the officer’s vehicle approached the intersection, it was struck by a maroon passenger vehicle which immediately fled the scene, the release said.
Minutes later, officers were able to locate the suspect’s vehicle near the 400 block of South “E” Street.
According to the press release, Michael Anthony Garcia had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath and appeared to be highly intoxicated.
After Garcia failed a standard sobriety test he was arrested and transported to the Harlingen Police Department where he was charged for driving while intoxicated with a $5,000 bond, accident involving injury set at $10,000, disregarding a red light and violation of emergency management plan set at $2,500, according to the release.
The police officer involved in the crash was transported to Harlingen Medical Center. The press release said he was treated and released from the hospital later that morning and Garcia was not injured.
