A Local television news anchor in California faces charges for driving under the influence (DUI) and assaulting a police officer after being tracked down and arrested Sunday evening.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) received a call around 8 p.m. that a car was traveling southbound in northbound Highway 101 lanes near El Capitan Rd and Santa Barbara according to local KSBW News. The driver, Paula Lopez Ochoa, 49, is a local television news anchor for KCOY-TV, a CBS/Fox affiliate.
CHP and local Santa Barbara Sheriff’s deputies tracked down the silver Toyota Prius that they determined Lopez Ochoa had been driving at the Sandpiper Golf Course parking lot, KEYT reported.
Reports suggest her vehicle may have collided with a pedestrian as well.
Emergency crews already in the area were evaluating the woman and a report notes that she was determined to be under the influence of alcohol.
Already looking at charges for driving under the influence, Lopez Ochoa allegedly assaulted law enforcement officials.
KSBW reported that Lopez Ochoa formerly worked for KEYT. A KEYT General Manager declined to comment on the incident to KSBW, but the outlet did report on the incident.
A report at Noozhawk elaborated:
Lopez, a mother of three and the wife of retired Superior Court Judge Frank Ochoa, has spoken publicly about her ongoing battle with alcoholism, and said she was getting medical treatment after a public-intoxication arrest in July 2013 and a day-long disappearance earlier that year.
Photo: file
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