WEST WHITELAND — Seven prior arrests for driving under the influence apparently didn’t prevent a Texas man from getting behind the wheel of his minivan after a few too many drinks early Tuesday morning.
Police on Wednesday said they arrested John Domingues, a 63-year-old San Antonio native, for suspicion of DUI after he was stopped by police for a traffic violation in the township.
A search of Domingues’ criminal record showed the Tuesday morning arrest was his eighth for DUI. On top of that, Pennsylvania proved to be the sixth different state where Domingues has been charged with the offense.
“I’ve seen this many before, but the fact that he’s done it in this many states is interesting,” West Whiteland Detective Scott Pezick said on Wednesday.
Police said Domingues was driving a white Chrysler Town & Country shortly after 3 a.m. on Tuesday in the area of Route 100 and the Route 30 Bypass. A township officer reportedly spotted Domingues make an illegal U-turn in the area and soon pulled Domingues over.
While speaking to Domingues, the officer said Domingues’ eyes were bloodshot and he smelled alcohol on Domingues’ breath. The officer had Domingues go through a series of sobriety tests, which he couldn’t complete, police said.
Domingues was then arrested and proccessed at the township police department. After Domingues’ fingerprints were scanned by a national criminal record database, police learned that this DUI arrest wasn’t Domingues’ first.
Pezick said Domingues’ DUI record dates back to a 1982 New York arrest. He has two DUI arrests in New York, two in Texas, and one in each of Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, and, now, Pennsylvania. Police said the Indiana and Iowa arrests occurred last year.
Pezick wasn’t sure why Domingues was in the area on Monday night, but he said Domingues told police he was playing with a band in Delaware County.
AdvertisementDomingues was arraigned on Tuesday by Magisterial District Justice Larry E. Smith in Exton District. He was taken to Chester County Prison in lieu of 10 percent of $20,000 bail.
Police said they are awaiting test results of a blood sample from Domingues before they schedule a preliminary hearing.
