Police Chase Drunk Driver to the Christmas Lights

SAN ANGELO, TX — Last night just after 10 p.m., a San Angelo police cruiser flashed its lights behind a Ford F-250 that was getting into line at the Concho Christmas Tour of Lights on W. 1st St. The truck didn’t seem to want to stop.

The lights tour is open until midnight, but the traffic through the check-in point at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Dr. was very light. The bulk of those touring the lights happens between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

The police car was not achieving its aim to pull over the driver of the pickup, so the officer pulled up next to the pickup. Suddenly, three more police cars arrived for backup, all running with lights and sirens. The driver of the F-250 stopped in line and the police cars surrounded the pickup, blocking all access to the Christmas light tour.

Over the radio, events surrounding the traffic stop was more exciting as one officer was describing the pursuit. In police terms, it was a high speed chase, but it appeared the driver of the F-250 was attempting to blend in with the few who were creeping their way through the check-in point for the lights tour.

While police were apprehending the driver, all lanes into the lights tour were blocked. A small line of cars were seen turning around just past the post office, disappointed that the roadway to the beginning of the tour was blocked.

Suddenly, the driver emerged from the pickup with his hands in the air. Police quickly searched and cuffed him. For the next 20 minutes or so, a detective was dispatched to the scene along with a tow truck to get the pickup out of the lights tour line. The lights tour opened back up just before 11 p.m.

On the jail logs, Caleb Ardoin, 27, was reported as arrested for evading arrest with a vehicle and driving while intoxicated. He was booked into the Tom Green County Detention Center at 12:31 a.m. with a $1,000 bond. He was among four who were arrested for DWI Saturday.