Ukiah man suspected of driving drunk with infant in car

A Ukiah man is back in jail after deputies arrested him on suspicion of driving drunk with an infant in the backseat.

Orlando Munoz was on felony probation for a prior DUI conviction and had a suspended license when a deputy spotted him swerving out of his lane and pulled him over Saturday just before midnight on Highway 101 near Ukiah, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said.

Munoz, 20, and passenger Mychell Vega-Ayala, 21, also of Ukiah, appeared drunk, the sheriff’s office said.

The woman’s 1-year-old daughter was found strapped in a car seat in the backseat of the car. The child was released to a relative, while her mother and Munoz were taken to jail.

Munoz is being held without bail due to his felony violation of probation. He faces charges for child endangerment, probation violation, and driving drunk and with a license suspended. Vega-Ayala faces charges for child endangerment and public intoxication. She’s being held on $25,000 bail.