Police: 'I am Drunk,' Man Admits During Traffic Stop

A 37-year-old Mount Pleasant man who was arrested in March on drunk driving charges is still without a lawyer so his initial appearance was rescheduled ... again.

Charges were formally filed against Samuel Trinidad on April 25, but because he didn't have a lawyer, the court assigned a $1,000 signature bond and rescheduled his initial appearance for Thursday. The defendant did appear as ordered, but without having an attorney to represent him, Court Commissioner Alice A. Rudebusch again postponed Trinidad's initial appearance, this time until May 16.

Trinidad is charged with operating while intoxicated, third offense; operating with a prohibited alcohol content, third offense; operating while revoked; and four counts of felony bail jumping. If convicted, he faces up to 27 years in prison and/or up to $46,500 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, a Mount Pleasant police officer on patrol at about 1 a.m. March 31 was driving west on Spring Street when he stopped for a red light at Emmertsen Road. The officer spotted a red pick-up truck traveling south on Emmertsen just north of Spring Street when suddenly the driver turned east heading straight for the squad car.

The driver - later identified as Trinidad - veered around the squad car and continued going east. MPPD initiated a traffic stop and observed Trinidad's bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, the complaint reads.

When the officer asked if Trinidad had been drinking, he admitted he had been. Officers report that when they asked how much he'd had to drink, Trinidad answered, "(Expletive), a lot. I was just coming from the bar. I am drunk.”

Police say the defendant also said he was just messing with the officer by driving toward the squad car, though, had he known he was driving toward a police officer, he probably wouldn't have done it.

Trinidad failed field sobriety tests and when he submitted to a breathalyzer, the results came back with a .17 reading, just over twice the legal limit, the complaint reads.

The defendant was transported to Wheaton Franciscan St. Mary's for a legal blood draw, but once he arrived, he refused to submit. When police told him they were going to force the blood draw, officers say Trinidad said he was prepared to fight several officers if necessary even though he knew he would probably lose.

Blood test results came back with a .19 reading, according to the complaint.

Court records indicate Trinidad was out on a $500 cash bond from a Sept. 2012 incident and he was driving on a revoked license at the time of this traffic stop.