Santa Rosa repeat DUI driver jailed following Rio Nido crash

A Santa Rosa man, 65, was jailed after a minor crash in Rio Nido Monday, his fourth arrest on suspicion of drunken driving since 1999.|
RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Santa Rosa resident Ernest Cassells was in jail Monday following his arrest by the CHP for his fourth drunken driving case since 1999.

Officers arrested Cassells, 65, after finding he'd caused a minor car crash in Rio Nido and had a blood-alcohol limit of approximately three times the legal limit, CHP Officer Jon Sloat said in a news release Monday.

Officers were called to Canyon 2 Road late Friday afternoon for a crash report. They found people from the other car detaining Cassells so he would not leave the crash scene, Sloat said.

His driving record showed three convictions and an arrest in December for suspected DUI.

His license has been suspended eight times and he is under legal restrictions to only drive with an ignition lock. His vehicle Friday didn't have such a lock, Sloat said.

Cassells was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, driving with a suspended license, violating his probation, driving without the device and no insurance.

His bail was set at $102,000, according to Sonoma County Jail records.

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