From the Stafford Sheriff’s Office:
An intoxicated hit and run driver was arrested Tuesday, in the first of two DUI arrests made by Deputy E.E. West during her shift.
On January 11th at 5:01 p.m. deputies responded to Davenport Drive for a motor vehicle accident. The caller relayed a possible intoxicated driver had struck a vehicle in the parking lot and nearly struck a stop sign and fire hydrant. Before deputies could arrive, the driver fled the scene onto Red Oak Drive at a high rate of speed.
Sgt. L.A. Burgess witnessed the suspect vehicle make a wide turn from Red Oak Drive onto Courthouse Road, going into the oncoming lane, and conducted a traffic stop. The driver was identified as 40-year old Jenna Briganti of Fredericksburg. Deputy West responded to assist with field sobriety tests and noted Briganti had red, glassy eyes and a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on her breath.
While offering the field sobriety tests, Briganti complained that the tests were not the standard tests. Deputies recognized she should have some knowledge of the tests, as this was her third offense DUI in five years. Deputies also located an open container of Burnett’s Pineapple Vodka in the vehicle.
Briganti was arrested and charged with DUI third offense, refusal second offense, hit and run, obstruction of justice, drinking while driving and a traffic lane violation. She was held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.
Then, as Deputy West was leaving the jail, word of another DUI.
On January 11th at 7:49 p.m., Deputy West was leaving the Rappahannock Regional Jail after dropping off a DUI arrest, when she received information about a possible intoxicated driver. A caller had informed the Emergency Communications Center a northbound Lamborghini on Jefferson Davis Highway was swerving between the lanes, going onto the shoulder and had even struck a guardrail.
Deputy West was in the right place at the right time and was able to pull out behind the suspect vehicle. She observed the Lamborghini drift between the lanes, straddle the lanes and then run onto the shoulder. She activated her emergency lights, but the suspect continued at 61 mph in the posted 50 mph zone. Upon activation of the siren, the suspect pulled into the parking lot at 1924 Jefferson Davis Highway.
The driver was identified as 33-year old Elton John Cossio Vasquez. Deputy West observed he had bloodshot, glassy eyes and slurred speech, as well as the odor of alcoholic beverage on his person. Cossio Vasquez was arrested and charged with DUI, refusal, obstruction of justice and the traffic lane violation. He was held on a $1,500 unsecured bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.
