A Shreveport man who drove his truck into a shopping cart corral at a grocery store and then passed out behind the wheel of the still-running vehicle was convicted of felony DWI in Caddo District Court Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
The six-woman jury in Judge Katherine Dorroh’s court deliberated just under two hours before returning its unanimous verdict of guilty-as-charged of third-offense driving while intoxicated with regard to Emanuel Sanchez, 32.
Evidence showed that on September 21, 2023, police received a call that a man was passed out behind the wheel of a truck that had driven onto a shopping cart holder at the Super 1 Foods at 745 Shreveport-Barksdale Highway. Arriving officers found Sanchez in the driver seat asleep with his truck still in gear and the engine running. Removing Sanchez from the vehicle, officers detected the odor of alcoholic beverages and took Sanchez into custody. At the police intoxication room Sanchez failed a field sobriety test and refused to take others. Officers confirmed Sanchez had two prior convictions for DWI from Smith County, Texas, and Harrison County, Texas, leading to his felony arrest.
The jury heard testimony from two SPD DWI Patrol Unit officers and an SPD fingerprint expert.
When Sanchez returns to court October 28, 2024, he faces a fine of $2,000 and imprisonment, with or without hard labor, for at least one year and up to five years.
Sanchez was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Fernando Grider and Senae D. Hall. He was defended by Dick Dave Knadler and Royal Alexander.
The case was docket No. 397701.