Deputies Nab Wrong-Way DUI Suspect in Mission Viejo

Deputies in south Orange County were busy during an eight-hour DUI Saturation patrol over the weekend dealing with a wrong-way driver and two pursuits.

“It was pretty unusual to have two pursuits and a wrong-way driver in one night,” said Orange County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Mark Stichter.

The saturation patrol covering Lake Forest, Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita started Friday night and carried over into Saturday.

Both pursuits happened in Rancho Santa Margarita Friday when deputies attempted to pull over DUI suspects at Santa Margarita and Antonio parkways, said Deputy Richard Oates.

In one of the chases, a motorcyclist led police on a brief chase before ditching his bike and fleeing on foot through a residential neighborhood. Deputies set up a perimeter and eventually arrested the man on suspicion of driving under the influence and evading arrest, said Oates.

The wrong-way DUI arrest happened in Mission Viejo early Saturday morning. A deputy spotted the driver on the wrong side of the road, and arrested the person on suspicion of DUI, added Oates.