The Cranberry Eagle
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 Article published November 19, 2012

Mexican man faces hearing for DUI
Reckless driving calls alert police

Jim Smith
Butler Eagle

CRANBERRY TWP — Federal immigration officials are waiting to take custody of a Mexican national arrested early Nov. 11 for suspected drunken driving in the township.
Miguel A. Cerna, 41, of Indianapolis, Ind., in the meantime, is being held in the Butler County Prison on $10,000 bail.
Cranberry Township police said about 2:30 a.m. Nov. 11 they spotted the defendant driving a pickup truck with Michigan license plates on it run a red light at Freedom Road and Route 19.
Officers were looking for the vehicle after several other motorists called 911 to report a reckless driver on Route 19 near the Walmart store.
Police pulled over Cerna in front of the Cranberry Mall. Officers said they reported smelling a “strong odor” of alcohol, according to court documents.
He told the officers that he was “attempting to go home,” a police affidavit said. Police said Cerna had an international driver’s license form his native Mexico.
He later failed several field sobriety tests and was arrested. Police took him to UPMC Passavant Cranberry for a blood test.
District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned Cerna on charges of driving under the influence, and not stopping at a red light.
During arraignment, he told Haggerty that he is married with four children. He said he has been employed as a construction worker for the past six months.
He was placed in the county jail, and faces a preliminary hearing at 10:45 a.m. Friday.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency also put a hold on him, prison officials said.