An allegedly drunken 29-year-old man who celebrated his birthday by riding a horse on the Artesia (91) Freeway in Long Beach was arrested early Saturday.
At about 1:00AM, a 911 caller alerted California Highway Patrol officers to the rider on a white Arabian horse, trotting eastbound along the freeway near Paramount Boulevard.
The man was stopped as he exited the freeway at the Downey Avenue exit and rode across Bellflower city limits, according to KTLA5, who first reported the arrest.
Alcohol screening tests allegedly showed that Luis Alfredo Perez of Placentia had a blood-alcohol content of .21 percent, more than double the legal limit, according to a CHP report.
The horse, named “Güera,” was unharmed and released to the suspect’s mother, who was on the scene quickly, according to KTLA5.
Perez was being held in lieu of more than $50,000 bail, according to sheriff’s online records, which show additional cases pending against Perez.
No, you may not ride your horse on the freeway, and certainly not while intoxicated. #CHP pic.twitter.com/IQ09Qgeq4j
— CHP Santa Fe Springs (@CHP_SFS) February 24, 2018
So a horse walks onto the 91 freeway…no joke. Rider arrested by CHP for DUI in the greater Long Beach area. Don’t put yourself, your beautiful animal, or others in danger of being killed in traffic. @CBSLA @NBCLA @KTLA @ABC7 @FOXLA @CNN @FoxNews @ABC @NBCNews @CBSNews @CHP_HQ pic.twitter.com/YdiL54ctvQ
— CHP Santa Fe Springs (@CHP_SFS) February 25, 2018