JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – Police have arrested an out-of-state man after they say he led officers on a high-speed chase while drunk.

Craighead County District Court Judge David Boling found probable cause on Monday, Nov. 4, to charge Eric Molina, 22, of Houston, Texas, with second-degree battery, fleeing, driving or boated while intoxicated, reckless driving, and driving without lights.

According to the affidavit, on Sunday, Nov. 3, a Jonesboro police officer was working off-duty in the 2800 block of Fair Park Boulevard when he saw Molina stumbling in the parking lot.

As Molina tried to get into the driver’s seat of a white Acura, the officer told him to stop, but he did not and closed the door.

“The officer opened the door and attempted to stop the vehicle only to stop the vehicle only to find it was push to start,” the affidavit states.

Molina then put the vehicle in gear and began to drive away with the officer half inside. The officer began running near the vehicle and realized that Molina was about to hit another vehicle in the parking lot. The officer got out of the vehicle and fell forward to catch himself.

The affidavit said Molina began speeding with his lights on and was able to lose officers at the intersection of East Nettleton Avenue and Caraway Road. However, another officer saw Molina turn around and head back toward the intersection, and the officers were able to stop him.

When Molina got out, officers noticed he was moving slowly and unsteady on his feet. He was arrested and taken to the Craighead County Detention Center, where he took a blood alcohol test. The affidavit said he had a level of 0.26. The legal BAC limit in Arkansas is 0.08.

Molina is being held on a $75,000 cash/surety bond and is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, December 17.

To report an error or correction, please click here.

Copyright 2024 KAIT. All rights reserved.