DUI Confirmed in Case of Assemblyman Arrested in Concord

Lab results show a state assemblyman from West Covina arrested for DUI in Concord March 27 was legally drunk, according to police reports.

Local authorities said they have turned the case against Roger Hernandez over to the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office to be reviewed.

Background

Police arrested Roger Hernandez, a West Covina Democrat, at 2:06 a.m. Tuesday, March 27 in the parking lot of the Crowne Plaza at 45 John Glenn Dr., Concord.

"After dinner I had a couple of drinks and because of the late hour I decided to stay in the town of Concord," Hernandez told the Sacramento Bee after the arrest. He said Concord police followed him into his hotel parking lot, told him he had failed to signal when he made the turn and administered a field sobriety test. Hernandez said he refused a breathalyzer test.

"I told them I didn't believe that was necessary. I'd only had a couple of drinks and I had safely, without putting anybody in danger, made my (way) to the hotel," he told the Bee Thursday morning.

The Bee reported: Hernandez said he had "two, maybe three glasses of wine over the course of a period longer than four hours after dinner. I was not drunk … I felt very clear and coherent. I felt very comfortable driving." Asked if he was alone, Hernandez said, "I won't get into that."

A 29-year-old female passenger was "released at the scene," according to a news release from Concord Police Chief Guy Swanger.

Hernandez was stopped by a Concord office for weaving within driving lanes and failure to use turns signals on Concord Avenue at Meridian Park Boulevard, Swanger said.

Upon completion of a field sobriety test, the officer determined there was probably cause to arrest Hernandez, police reported. He was taken to the Concord police jail, where a blood test was conducted, and Hernandez was then transported to the Martinez Detention Facility, Swanger said.

Now the case rests in the hands of the District Attorney's Office. We'll bring you an updated story once further details are available. 

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