Police arrest man on suspicion of DUI after crash in Paso Robles

PASO ROBLES, Calif. - Paso Robles police arrested a man involved in a vehicle crash who was apparently under the influence on Tuesday.

Police arrested Darren Santagelo, 32, of Atascadero for driving under the influence, fleeing the scene of a traffic collision and felony assault of a police officer.

At around 11 a.m., Paso Robles police dispatch was notified of a vehicle collision on Paso Robles Street near the Highway 101 northbound off-ramp in Paso Robles.

The people reporting the driver informed dispatchers that the driver had exited his vehicle and was running away from the collision.

Police contacted the suspect who was yelling in the middle of Paso Robles Street. Police identified the suspect as Santagelo.

Police say Santagelo immediately became violent toward an officer by kicking and punching him.

The officer deployed his taser and with assistance from other officers was able to bring him into custody.

Paso Robles Emergency Services arrived to render aid to Santagelo who was suspected to be under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of the incident.

In their investigation, they found that he collided with a parked vehicle and ran away from the initial collision. He then began to yell at other vehicles passing by and was trying to get into other vehicles in the area.

Santagelo was later booked at San Luis Obispo County Jail.

The investigation is ongoing at this time.