An alleged drunk driver who passed an officer’s patrol car and then led authorities on a high-speed chase in rainy conditions is now in jail, according to authorities, and Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell credits the officers for keeping Eatonton’s streets safe for other drivers.
“Officers Meeks, Rickey and Hargrove, and Sgt. Bowman did a fine job and I appreciate their careful diligence in this situation,” Cardwell said on Tuesday.
Officer Rebecca Meeks was traveling on West Marion Street on a wet and rainy Thursday, April 13, when a black pickup passed her patrol vehicle on a double yellow line, according to her incident report.
Meeks turned on her vehicle’s blue lights and siren and got behind the 2007 Dodge Ram, which continued and used the turn lane to pass two cars on Monticello Road. Officer Alex Rickey joined Meeks in the pursuit, and they reportedly reached speeds of 96 mph.
The driver of the pickup slammed on his brakes and stopped at the Gregory Bridge, Meeks said in her report.
The officers drew their weapons and commanded the driver, later identified as Maximino Hernandez Bautista, to get out of the truck.
Bautista reportedly remained in the truck until a third officer, Hargrove Jones, arrived and added his voice to the others’ commands. Rickey placed Bautista in handcuffs and Hargrove did the same with the male front-seat passenger.
A third passenger, a female in the backseat, began crying and saying in Spanish that the driver was her “Papa” and she was concerned for his wellbeing. Meeks reportedly responded in Spanish and assured the woman that her father was okay.
Sgt. Harold “Buddy” Bowman arrived and joined Meeks and Rickey in searching the vehicle and located two open Coronas in boots, Meeks said.
A translator assisted Meeks in reading Georgia’s implied consent to the driver and Bautista agreed to a breath test. He was taken to Eatonton Police Department, where Hargrove administered the test, which reportedly registered 0.106 grams.
The passengers were released, and Bautista was arrested.
Maximino Dominic Hernandez-Bautista, 36, of Redbud Drive, Eatonton, was charged with fleeing or attempting to elude police officers, two counts of improper passing, speeding 100 mph in a 45 mph zone, speeding 80 mph in a 35 mph zone, DUI alcohol, driving without a valid license (2nd offense), open container in vehicle, and reckless driving, according to jail reports.