A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of aggravated DUI, unlawful flight and driving with a suspended license after he and his dog were clocked going 20 mph over the speed limit just outside of town.
A Maricopa police officer caught a speeding driving on State Route 238 near Loma Road on Aug. 31 around 11 a.m., according to a probable cause statement. The Ford F–150 was traveling 80 mph in a 60 mph zone.
During the traffic stop, the driver drove 200 yards — the length of two football fields — past the shoulder before getting stuck in the mud, according to a probable cause statement. Due to the amount of mud, the officer asked the driver, later identified as Noah Fragua, to get out of his vehicle and walk toward him. Fragua allegedly told him, “he was good” and fetched his dog from the car.
Fragua allegedly refused multiple requests to walk to the officer.
Once a backup officer arrived, Fragua finally agreed to move toward the officers and was handcuffed, according to the probable cause statement. An officer noted he smelled of liquor and, according to the probable cause statement, appeared confused and frustrated.
When asked why he kept driving during a traffic stop, Fragua allegedly told police he was just trying to find a safe spot to park. He did not respond when the officer said he had “never seen someone drive so far off the road to stop.”
He was arrested on suspicion of aggravated DUI, unlawful flight and driving with a suspended license. A search warrant was granted to have his blood drawn for blood alcohol testing.
