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North Bay Couple Arrested On Separate DUI Charges

SANTA ROSA (BCN) - California Highway Patrol officers responding to a crash in Santa Rosa last week ended up arresting a couple on suspicion of driving under the influence.

At about 10:10 p.m. on Tuesday, CHP officers responded to a crash on Holland Drive near Bennett Valley Road, where they found a Toyota pickup truck on its left side, blocking the roadway, the CHP said.

Santa Rosa firefighters told the CHP they had found the driver walking on Holland Drive, where he was detained by Santa Rosa police.

The driver was identified as 23-year-old Brandon Cheney, of Santa Rosa, according to the CHP. Cheney initially told officers that his truck had been stolen and that he was chasing it on foot, CHP officials said.

However, further questioning revealed that Cheney had been driving the truck at the time of the crash, according to the CHP. He was also found to be under the influence of alcohol and was arrested on suspicion of DUI, they said.

Although Cheney had a valid driver's license, he had two previous DUI convictions, as well as convictions for driving with a suspended license and street racing, the CHP said.

As officers were handling Cheney's case, a woman driving a Volkswagen Passat arrived at the scene. She began speaking to a firefighter, who sensed she had been drinking and called a CHP officer over.

The woman - identified as Jennifer O'Neal, 29, of Santa Rosa - told officers she had received a call about Cheney's crash and had come to check on him, according to the CHP. O'Neal was also arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, the CHP said.

Both were booked into Sonoma County Jail.

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