Motorist accused of crashing car, leaving scene

Maricopa police arrested a man accused of crashing a car into a guardrail before walking away from the scene Dec. 15. 

Police arrested 35-year-old Geraldson S. Begay after they found his wallet with an identification card, and an open White Claw in the car, a probable cause statement shows. 

Police were dispatched at about 7:45 p.m. to a report of a crashed Ford Fusion at North White and Parker and West Honeycutt roads.  

Police arrived and found the wrecked sedan unoccupied. A witness told officers that a man, later identified as Begay, was driving east on Honeycutt before he rolled through the intersection and crashed into a guardrail. The witness said Begay got out of the vehicle and left before the officers arrived. 

Inside the vehicle, police found a wallet with Begay’s ID, and several personal belongings with his name on them. Officers also reported finding a cold, closed can of White Claw Hard Seltzer, and an open, half-empty can in the cup holder. 

Police noted the vehicle’s keys were gone, and Begay was nowhere to be found. 

A license check showed Begay’s driving privileges were criminally suspended. 

Maricopa police at about 3 a.m. Dec. 17 received a report of a man walking in the street just a mile and a half down the road from the crash.  

A caller told dispatch that Begay, who appeared to be intoxicated, was walking in the road near Honeycutt Road and North Rancho Mirage Boulevard. 

When officers contacted Begay, he identified himself and told police he was walking back home after a verbal argument with some family members. Police said they found a Ford key during a search. 

Begay was arrested and booked into Pinal County jail on one felony count of illegal dumping, and five misdemeanor counts of leaving the scene of an accident, driving while criminally suspended, having an open container of liquor in the vehicle and criminal damage. 

Begay faces more than three years in prison. 

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