Police: Sebastopol DUI suspect caught with beer

A Santa Rosa man who was stopped for running a Sebastopol stop sign and was found to be holding a beer between his legs was arrested Monday on suspicion of drunken driving and was booked without bail at the Sonoma County Jail, police said.

Carlos Papalotzin, 26, had two prior convictions for driving under the influence, including reckless driving and evasion, and was on probation when he was picked up shortly before 12:30 p.m. Monday, police said.

Papalotzin was traveling about 20 mph when a traffic enforcement officer saw him drive through the stop sign on Florence Avenue at Huntley Street, in a residential area near the center of town, police said.

When Officer David Edney stopped the car, he saw a beer bottle between Papalotzin’s legs and smelled alcohol from inside the vehicle, police said. Authorities said his investigation revealed the driver was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, and was driving without a valid license, having had three prior suspensions.

Papalotzin was arrested on suspicion of a variety of charges, including drunken driving, driving without a valid license and violating probation, police said. He remained at the county jail Tuesday.

His passenger, Santa Rosa resident Jesus Edgar Banda-Marin, 22, was arrested as well after he gave Edney someone else’s name as his own, apparently thinking he might have a warrant out for his arrest, police said.

Banda-Marin was arrested on suspicion of providing false information to an officer and false impersonation. His bail was $10,000, jail personnel said.

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan at 521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat.com.