It’s been a fast and foolish stretch on El Paso-area streets, marked by road rage incidents, a speeding and reckless driver, and a man accused of fleeing from a Texas state trooper after his driver’s license had already been taken by the officer.
The Texas Department of Public Safety arrested Antonio Varela Jr., 22, on a felony charge of evading arrest with a vehicle on Monday, Feb. 23, for allegedly fleeing from a trooper on Feb. 7 in Northeast El Paso.
A jail log showed Varela remained held at the El Paso County Jail Annex as of Thursday, Feb. 26, after Magistrate Judge Ray Duke refused to lower his $55,000 bond at a hearing on Wednesday, citing the nature of the crime and community safety.
The chase occurred at 5:39 p.m. on Feb. 7 after a trooper on patrol saw a gray 2002 Chevrolet Corvette convertible allegedly speeding on the U.S. 54 Patriot Freeway, according to a complaint affidavit obtained by the El Paso Times.
The trooper — who paced the Corvette going about 78 mph in a 60 mph limit — initiated a traffic stop, the affidavit stated. The sports car exited on Fred Wilson Avenue and pulled into a gas station. When making contact with the driver, the trooper smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car.
Varela handed the trooper his driver’s license, questioned the trooper’s instructions to exit the car and appeared nervous, the affidavit stated.
When the trooper told Varela that he had probable cause to search the car, Varela denied having any marijuana, then said something to the effect of “it’s right here” before he abruptly ran back to the driver’s seat, locked the doors and drove away, the affidavit stated.
Texas DPS pursuit of Corvette
A pursuit began as the Corvette sped off in the wrong direction on Gateway South Boulevard in “disregard for public safety” before speeding “recklessly” through a neighborhood and running stop signs, the affidavit stated.
Varela later turned left onto Pollard Street (where a public defense attorney mentioned at the bond hearing he resides at a home with his grandmother), then turned right onto Fred Wilson Avenue and then left on Dyer Street, the affidavit stated.
The trooper lost sight of the car, but several bystanders pointed out that it was heading down Dyer Street. An arrest warrant for Varela was filed.
Delivery driver attacked in ‘road rage’ in East El Paso
A delivery driver’s Meta smart sunglasses video-recorded when he was allegedly attacked by another driver during a “road rage” confrontation in East El Paso, police said.
The 44-year-old delivery driver told police that he was attempting to make a turn when he saw a red Jeep going at a high speed that swerved to avoid a collision on Monday, Feb. 23, an El Paso Police Department video news release stated. The delivery driver turned into his destination, and the Jeep followed him in an industrial area in the 11500 block of Rojas Drive.
EPPD released a video with short, edited footage from the delivery driver’s Meta glasses showing the Jeep’s driver, Hugo Jesus Vasquez, confronting him, walking up the steps of the delivery truck, then biting his lip and appearing to throw a punch, before the camera image jumbles.
Vasquez, 29, was arrested on an assault charge and booked into jail on a $5,000 bond, police said. No attorney was found for him on court records.
“Road rage” can be dangerous and can escalate quickly. Police advised that if another driver makes a mistake:
EPPD stated that “anger behind the wheel puts lives at risk,” adding, “Choose patience. Choose safety.”
‘Reckless’ driver arrested going 94 mph in Horizon City
A driver was arrested on a reckless driving charge after Horizon City police allegedly clocked him going 94 mph on Eastlake Boulevard, police said.
A Horizon City police officer saw Michael Valles, 19, speeding in a red Chevrolet Camaro, making abrupt lane changes and nearly colliding with another car while eastbound on Eastlake Boulevard near Darrington Road about 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24, stated a police news release issued by Officer C. Morales.
Police noted that the radar clocked the Camaro going 94 mph in a 45 mph zone. During the traffic stop, Valles, who allegedly admitted to driving recklessly, was allegedly found to have no valid driver’s license, no insurance and improper registration.
The reckless driving case was accepted for prosecution by the El Paso District Attorney’s Office. Valles was booked into the El Paso County Jail and released the next day on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond, which requires no money but a promise to appear in court, according to jail records.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Road rage video, DPS chase and 94 mph stop draw arrests in El Paso
Reporting by Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
