Sorry for Partying? - off duty NOPD involved in car chase and DWI

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A New Orleans police officer is accused of driving drunk with a teenage relative in his car and leading Kenner police on a high-speed chase on Interstate 10 that ended in a car fire late Saturday night (Nov. 24).

Kenner police responded just before midnight Saturday to a CVS in the 800 block of West Esplanade Avenue after a man, now identified as Peralta, started arguing with a store clerk who refused to sell him alcohol, according to a news release. Police said Peralta left the store and got in a car. Shortly after, a red Dodge Avenger was seen “swerving all over the roadway” in the 800 block of West Esplanade Avenue, according to arrest records. Officers caught up with the car, which had a Louisiana law enforcement license plate, and stopped it in a Walmart parking lot in the 300 block of West Esplanade. They were walking up to the car when the driver, now identified as Peralta, sped off.

Kenner police, assisted by Louisiana State Police, chased the car onto I-10 into New Orleans. The car reached speeds of 110 miles per hour and was swerving between moving vehicles when police threw out spike strips and disabled a front tire, according to arrest records. The car exited at Morrison Road, hitting a curb and going off road before catching fire, the front hood becoming “engulfed in flames,” according to arrest records.

The 15-year-old passenger quickly exited the car, but officers had to remove Peralta, who refused to get out after being asked several times, Kenner police said.

Peralta smelled of alcohol and failed sobriety tests at the scene, according to arrest records. Officers also found two open and cold cans of Miller Lite beer on the floor of the car. Peralta was treated at a hospital for injuries suffered in the chase.

At the time of his booking, Peralta had a blood alcohol level of 0.24 percent, three times the legal limit of 0.08, according to arrest records.

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Carlos Peralta, 53, was booked Sunday with driving while intoxicated, aggravated flight from an officer and reckless operation of a vehicle, according to Jefferson Parish arrest records.

The NOPD “does not and will not tolerate this type of behavior from our officers whether they are on or off duty,” NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said in a statement.

WWL reports Peralta’s bail was set at $31,500.

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