Local Man Arrested Twice for DWI

Police arrested Leonardo Hagelsieb Rodriguez, 25, of 2920 Chapel Hill Road at 1:06 a.m. and again at 4 a.m.

Rodriguez is being charged with two misdemeanor counts of driving while impaired, two misdemeanor counts of driving with a revoked license, one misdemeanor count of speeding and one misdemeanor count of failure to run headlights, reports state.

Rodriguez first was clocked going 67 mph in a 35 mph zone on East Franklin Street near Plant Road at about 1 a.m., reports state.

He registered a .15 on the Intoxilyzer 5000 test, reports state.

Reports also state that Rodriguez was arrested and charged with one misdemeanor count each of driving while impaired, speeding and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Rodriguez was transported to the Chapel Hill Police Department, where he was released by the magistrate on a written promise to appear April 10 in the Orange County District Court in Chapel Hill.

Jane Cousins, Chapel Hill police spokeswoman, said it is at this point when most arrestees get a ride home.

Cousins said that once a Chapel Hill police officer makes an arrest, it is up to the magistrate to determine if a person should be released or held.

But it is unclear if a ride was arranged for Rodriguez after he was released from the Chapel Hill Police Department.

Two hours later, Rodriguez again was driving down East Franklin Street when officers stopped him near Eastgate Shopping Center at 4 a.m. for failure to run his headlights, reports state.

Reports state that after approaching the vehicle, officers smelled an odor of alcohol coming from the driver.

Officers ran the vehicle's license plates and found that Rodriguez's license had been revoked earlier that morning for driving while impaired, reports state.

Reports also state that Rodriguez was arrested again and given another Intoxilyzer 5000 test. He registered a .12 blood alcohol content, reports state.

Officials seized Rodriguez's vehicle and took him to the magistrate, where this time he was issued a $400 unsecured bond, reports state.

He was charged with one misdemeanor count each of driving while impaired, driving with a suspended or revoked license and failure to run headlights, reports state.

The magistrate on duty who charged Rodriguez could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Neither arresting police officer could be reached for comment.

Rodriguez is scheduled to appear April 10 in the Orange County Administrative Traffic Court in Chapel Hill.

But Cousins said getting arrested two times in one night for driving while impaired is not common.

"It is pretty unusual that they drive again right away."

The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu.