A man is accused of driving on West Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway in the wrong direction and illegally possessing a firearm on Sunday morning, police said. 

According to police, Sebastian Navarette-Ramirez, 26, was booked into Pinal County Jail on suspicion of multiple charges: two counts of misconduct involving weapons, and one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia, aggravated DUI and driving with a suspended license. Navarette-Ramirez also had a post-adjudication warrant out for his arrest. 

According to the probable cause statement:  

At about 3:10 a.m., Maricopa Police stopped a vehicle near West Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway and North White and Parker Road for driving westbound in the eastbound lane of West Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. The vehicle was reported to be in the incorrect lane of travel for about 200 feet. 

Police contacted Navarette-Ramirez, who was in the driver’s seat. Navarette-Ramirez told officers that there were no weapons in the vehicle, when asked. 

A background check on Navarette-Ramirez revealed that the man had a suspended license as of Dec. 24, 2018, due to failure to stop at a red light. 

Navarette-Ramirez was processed for driving under the influence due to his wrong-way driving and admittance to drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana and using methamphetamine. The man provided a Preliminary Breath Test sample of .055, and was placed under arrest for aggravated DUI and driving with a suspended license. 

According to police, during an inventory search of the vehicle officers located a Ruger SR9 firearm with one 9mm round, which officers said was “hidden” under the back seat. A small baggie of marijuana, an empty baggie and two digital scales were found in the center console. 

Navarette-Ramirez was noted by police to be a convicted felon and a prohibited firearms possessor. The man completed a blood draw for the DUI process, and was booked on the five charges and warrant. 

Read more public safety stories here: Public Safety – InMaricopa

Brian Petersheim Jr., Reporter
Brian Petersheim Jr., Reporter
Brian became part of the InMaricopa team in October 2020, starting as a multimedia intern with a focus on various multimedia tasks. His responsibilities included file organization and capturing photos of events and incidents. After graduating from Maricopa High School in the class of 2021, his internship seamlessly transitioned into a full-fledged job. Initially serving as a dedicated photographer, Brian's role evolved in October 2021 when he took on a new beat as a writer. He is currently pursuing his studies at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Brian's primary focus lies in covering public safety-related stories. In his free time, Brian finds joy in spending quality time with his family and embarking on adventures to explore the landscapes around him.
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