Argus Courier Staff

On Sept. 2, Petaluma police arrested a man suspected of driving under the influence after a brief vehicle pursuit. The very next night, it happened again.

“For the second night in a row, officers arrested a DUI driver after a reckless driving pursuit,” police stated in a news alert.

According to the alert, that Wednesday night at around 9:45 p.m., an officer “observed a vehicle engaging in an exhibition of speed and reckless driving within the city limits near Petaluma Boulevard North and Skillman Lane.” When the officer tried to pull the vehicle over, the driver instead “led officers on a brief pursuit into the western unincorporated area of Petaluma,” police said.

The driver, later identified as 21-year-old Gadiel Cortez-Diaz of Petaluma, ultimately stopped on Cavanaugh Lane, and that’s when officers “determined Cortez-Diaz was under the influence of alcohol,” police said. “Open containers of alcohol were also discovered inside the vehicle.”

Cortez-Diaz was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, reckless evading, and possession of open containers in a vehicle, police said.

No collisions or injuries were reported. Police said the incident “underscores the significant dangers impaired and reckless drivers pose to the community. Thanks to the quick response of officers, a potentially serious collision was prevented.”