An allegedly intoxicated Turlock man was arrested Saturday evening after he led Ceres Police on a pursuit that ended at a McDonald's drive-thru lane.
At 11:52 p.m. Ceres police dispatchers received a call about a possible drunken driver who may have brandished a firearm in the area of Central Avenue and Hackett Road. Officers found a gray Suzuki matching the suspect vehicle description. The car was being driven with its headlights off on northbound Blaker Road.
Officer Jeremy Caron attempted to stop the driver, Jaswant Kooner, 51, of Turlock, as he turned onto westbound Whitmore Avenue. Kooner was weaving and at Morgan Road nearly collided with cars stopped for a red light. Kooner then pulled into the entrance into the McDonalds at Whitmore and Morgan with Caron performing a maneuver that spun the car at the restaurant drive-thru lane. Kooner was blocked in by the patrol car and cars in the lane.
Police initiated a high-risk traffic stop with Kooner refusing to get out of his vehicle. Officer Keith Griebel walked up to the car and broke out the driver’s door window. Kooner still refused to comply with orders, so a police canine was deployed by Officer Jose Amador. The driver was arrested and then taken to a local hospital for treatment of a canine bite.
Kooner reportedly fell asleep on the gurney due to heavy intoxication from prescription drugs and alcoholic beverages.
No gun was found in the car, but a flashlight lying on the seat may have been mistaken for a gun, said Ceres Police Lt. Brent Smith.
Kooner will answer charges in court that he drove while drunk and leading police on a pursuit.