Police: Suspect in DUI and Crash Reported Car as Stolen

A Duluth woman told police that her vehicle was stolen soon after it ran into a stationary vehicle, according to police.

Vivian Rodriguez of a Berwick Farm Drive address was booked into the Gwinnett Detention Center on Dec. 2 on charges of driving under the influence, hit and run, and false report of a crime, according to jail records.

The charges are in connection with an incident that was reported to Duluth Police about 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 1, according to Duluth Police records.

Police responded to a call at River Green Parkway and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, and noticed a 1989 BMW that had heavy damage to the front end after apparently colliding with the rear of another vehicle on River Green Parkway, according to the incident report. The air bag had been deployed on the driver side.

The complainant told police that he heard a crash outside, then saw that the BMW had collided with the rear of another vehicle. The complainant then said he saw a female leave the driver side of the BMW, and that a white passenger vehicle driven by a man pulled up beside the BMW, picked up the woman, and then headed down River Green Parkway toward Berwick Farm Drive.

After police checked the suspect vehicle's registration, the officer noticed the "strong odor of alcoholic beverages" coming from the vehicle, and noticed an empty beer can, a purse, and a cell phone inside the car.

About 12:30 a.m., police said an individual named Vivian Rodriguez called and wished to report her vehicle as stolen, from a tavern on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.

Police made contact with Rodriguez at the home of a friend on Berwick Farm Drive. She said she arrived at the tavern about 10 p.m. and left at midnight, when she said her vehicle was missing, and that a friend gave her a ride to his residence.

According to the report, the officer noted that Rodriguez's eyes were watery, that she displayed poor balance, and the officer detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverages coming from her. The suspect later acknowledged to the officer that she was drunk.

A breath test administered by officers gave a reading of 0.259, according to the report.

This information comes from Duluth Police and the Gwinnett Sheriff's Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Questions should be directed to duluth@patch.com.