Most were first- or second-time offenders, but others were arrested in the commission of other dangerous and violent crimes while allegedly driving drunk.
Joshua David Cobos, 21, and Jose Guadalupe Robles, 37, both were arrested for a second-degree felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a motor vehicle in this instance. Cobos also was arrested for a first-time offense of misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. Robles also was charged with a second-degree felony of endangering a child. The men were arrested Sunday night.
But Cobos wasn't the only one arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated. There were 14 other arrests for a first-time offense, four for a second-time offense and five for a third or more charge of DWI. Also, eight people were arrested on misdemeanor charges of DWI with an open container, for a total of 32 arrested for DWI between Friday afternoon and Monday night, according to records obtained by the Reporter-Telegram from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Midland County Sheriff's Office and the Midland Police Department.
"I figured the arrests would have been a lot lower this weekend because of how much we publicized the crackdown," Sheriff Gary Painter said Tuesday afternoon.
But for all the arrests, Painter said, he was happy there weren't any deaths or significant injuries related to drunken driving. He said he hopes to partner with local law enforcement and the district attorney's office more often for "no refusal" weekends.
"This many intoxicated drivers is extremely dangerous," Painter said before reiterating his hope there will be many more crackdown weekends in the near future.
Cobos' son
Midland police were alerted to a rolling, mobile disturbance Sunday shortly before 9 p.m. Officers were originally told the "road rage" incident occurred at the intersection of Andrews Highway and West Illinois Avenue, but were advised shortly after that the vehicles were still "smashing into each other" and headed southbound on Andrews Highway, according to Cobos' and Robles' arrest reports.
Police finally caught the pair at the intersection of West Florida Avenue and South Garfield Street after both vehicles were disabled because of multiple collisions.
After interviewing witnesses and viewing the physical evidence, police determined the disturbance started around the 300 block of Andrews Highway. Reports said Cobos was driving a green 1995 GMC 1500 and Robles was driving a tan Buick Park Avenue when the pair got into a verbal disturbance while driving.
There were conflicting accounts of how the dispute began, but both parties are alleging the other was responsible, police said.
Robles told police officers that Cobos intentionally pulled in front of him, cutting Robles off and causing Robles to slam into the back of Cobos' truck. He then said Cobos threw a beer bottle at his car.
Cobos told officers he accidentally cut Robles off, causing the accident but said there was no intent. He added that Robles continued to pursue him, eventually and repeatedly striking his truck multiple times near the 2100 block of West Florida Avenue.
Regardless of how the incident began, officers concluded there were "straight tire marks from (Robles' vehicle) slamming into (Cobos') vehicle," according to Robles' arrest report.
Witnesses told police the pair began fighting after the final collision.
Based on the evidence and reports attained, Midland police decided to charge both in the rolling assault. Officers wrote in Cobos' arrest report that he used "his (pickup) as a weapon when he intentionally stopped the vehicle in an intersection in a manner that caused a collision with the victim," according to Cobos' arrest reports.
Because multiple witnesses had seen Robles repeatedly slam into Cobos' truck, he also was booked for the same charge. "Due to the fact that (Robles) intentionally struck (Cobos') vehicle and at the same time had a child under the age of one (in the vehicle), he was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and endangering a child," according to Robles' arrest reports.
Judge Cobos was on call during the holiday weekend, but upon hearing of the incident, he recused himself from the case. Precinct 4 Judge George Zimmerman presided over the arraignment of the younger Cobos.
"I'm a by-the-book judge," Cobos told the Reporter-Telegram in his office Tuesday afternoon. "I immediately recused myself. I've never done anything improper, nor will I start now."
He declined to discuss much of the incident on the record, but a visibly distraught Cobos said he was sad over his son's alleged actions.
Judge Cobos said elected officials, judges and police officers all have families and sometimes they have to deal with issues like any other citizen.
"I'm a damn tough judge and I applied the same standards at home," Cobos said. "When you're an adult, you make your own decisions ... sometimes in spite of what you're taught."
Judge Cobos said he declined to bond his son out of jail.
Joshua Cobos remained in jail Tuesday night on a $17,500 bond for the second-degree felony and for misdemeanor DWI. Robles also remained in jail Tuesday night on a $13,500 bond for two second-degree felonies. If convicted each could receive up to 20 years in prison for the aggravated assault. Robles also could receive an additional 20 years for endangering a child while striking Cobos' truck.
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source: mywesttexas.com (Cannon, 9/7)
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