Cops chased alleged drunken driver doing 100 mph

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Michael Vasquez. | Provided Photo~Sun-Times Media ptmet

Updated: March 23, 2012 8:19AM

SOUTH HAVEN — An allegedly drunken driver led a police car in a chase going over 100 mph in a residential neighborhood.

The pursuit ended when 38-year-old Michael Vasquez, of Portage, lost control on a curve on McCool Road near north County Road 700 and crashed into a boulder, two mailboxes and a street sign. No one was injured. Vasquez then reportedly got out of his vehicle and started walking toward the sole pursuing officer, despite his commands to stop and get on the ground. The officer stunned him with a Taser, according to the arrest report.

The incident started at about 4:05 a.m. Sunday, when Vasquez’s teal 1997 Dodge Intrepid turned right on red at U.S. 6 and McCool Road in front of an eastbound squad car, which had the right of way, police said. The fully marked police car had to swerve to avoid striking the Intrepid, and the officer immediately tried to pull Vasquez over. He, however, reportedly drove through the parking lot of Al’s Supermarket and headed south on McCool.

Vasquez failed sobriety tests and, at the time of his arrest, was on probation for a 2011 drunken driving conviction, police said.

He now is charged with two felonies, resisting law enforcement with a vehicle and drunken driving with a prior conviction; and several misdemeanors, including reckless driving.