Miles Jay Oliver

The Shreveport Times

The driver of an 18-wheeler was arrested Wednesday after reports of his dangerous driving led deputies on a high-speed chase.

Hugo Leonel Mejia, 41, of Alamo, Texas, was arrested after deputies finally got him to stop under the Interstate 49 overpass on North Market in Shreveport.

Mejia was reportedly southbound on I-49 when motorists began reporting that he was driving his 18-wheeler dangerously. When Mejia refused to stop for Caddo deputies, the intersection of I-49 and North Market was temporarily closed. Mejia then drove his big rig through the intersection at a high rate of speed, made a left turn onto North Market, and finally stopped under the overpass.

Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator said about 10 deputies were involved in getting Mejia to stop, which prevented injury to other drivers.

Deputies discovered two opened bottles of alcohol beside the driver’s seat in Mejia’s 18-wheeler, and he was taken into custody.

Mejia was charged with multiple offenses including DWI, aggravated flight from an officer, resisting an officer and possession of alcoholic beverages in a vehicle.

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