COPS: Drunk man drove unbuckled toddler in front seat

A man admitted to drinking six beers Friday morning before hopping behind the wheel with a toddler unbuckled in the front seat, according to the Maricopa Police Department. 

Police stopped 35-year-old Vargas Hernandez-Santos’ Honda minivan around 9:30 a.m. near North Scott Court in Rancho El Dorado. 

Hernandez-Santos said he was on the way to his girlfriend’s house, according to a probable cause statement. 

Officers said Hernandez-Santos reeked of alcohol and had an unbuckled toddler in the front seat next to him. 

Hernandez-Santos refused to take both a breath test and a field sobriety test, according to the probable cause statement. He admitted he drank six beers at 7 a.m. 

MPD obtained a warrant for Hernandez-Santos’ blood, which was sent to the Arizona Department of Public Safety for testing. 

Police lodged two DUI charges against Hernandez-Santos including a felony count of aggravated DUI for putting a child’s safety at risk. 

Hernandez-Santos faces a mandatory minimum sentence of four months in prison, mandatory alcohol screening and classes, monthly probation visits and fees, and urinalysis whenever requested. The MVD will revoke his driver’s license for a minimum of three years. 

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