By: Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A teenager accused of crashing into a marked Stillwater police car, injuring an officer and leaving the scene of the accident while driving under the influence of alcohol and transporting an opened can of Smirnoff Ice Smash has been ordered to appear in court on July 7 for arraignment on the three-count charge.
Mikah Lee Suniga, 18, of Perkins, had originally been charged with the hit and run count as a misdemeanor, but that was dismissed last week and refiled as a felony, which carries as much as a two-year prison term and $1,000 fine on conviction. Suniga was freed on $7,500 bail the day after the accident, court records show.
If convicted of the misdemeanor count of driving under the influence by a person under 21, Suniga could be given up to a $500 fine or an order to perform 20 hours of community service. If convicted of transporting an opened container of an alcoholic beverage, Suniga could be given up to a six-month jail term and a $500 fine.
Stillwater Police Officer Andrew Wilson alleged in an affidavit that at 4:56 p.m. on May 21 Suniga was the driver of a 2003 Chrysler Sebring that failed to yield to oncoming traffic at 19th Avenue and Highway 177.
“Suniga was northbound and made a left turn in front of oncoming traffic and struck a marked police unit, then intentionally and knowingly left the scene in an attempt to avoid responsibility,” the affidavit alleged.
“The driver of the other vehicle was transported to the hospital with injury. Suniga was eventually captured after a short manhunt in the area,” and arrested nine minutes later, the affidavit alleged.
“During my investigation of Suniga’s wrecked vehicle, I discovered an open can of Smirnoff ‘Ice Smash’ that was in the driver’s floorboard. The can showed that it was eight percent alcohol by volume and it was mostly empty but still smelled of an alcoholic beverage. The adult passenger in the vehicle identified Suniga by name as the driver,” the officer alleged in his affidavit.
“At the Stillwater Police Department jail, I met with Suniga and he admitted to drinking from the Smirnoff drink about 30 minutes before the accident. He did submit to field sobriety testing and based on his performance was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He did submit to breath testing and his test results were both .02,” at 6:49 p.m. and 6:53 p.m., the officer alleged in his affidavit.
Suniga was 18 at the time of the incident, the affidavit said.
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