Auburn, Ala. - On March 21, 2024, Auburn Police arrested Octavio Maldonado, age 46, from Houston, TX, on warrants charging him with attempting to elude (felony), resisting arrest and driving under the influence.

The arrest stems from Auburn Police responding to a harassment call near the 100 block of West Magnolia Avenue during the early morning hours of March 21. Officers met with a victim that reported the suspect threatened them with bodily harm.

APD officers responded to the area and located the suspect in a parked vehicle a short distance away. Upon being alerted to police presence, the suspect began to drive away, disregarding an officer’s commands to stop. While attempting to flee, the suspect drove in a reckless manner, crashing into two Auburn Police Department vehicles and nearby construction scaffolding. The suspect continued to flee until his vehicle was disabled after leaving the roadway and striking traffic bollards.

The suspect refused to obey police commands and was forcibly removed from the vehicle. After being detained, the suspect was identified as Octavio Maldonado. During arrest, officers observed obvious signs of intoxication.

Maldonado was arrested for driving under the influence and resisting arrest. After further investigation, he was also charged with felony attempting to elude. Maldonado sustained superficial cuts to his face during the multiple collisions, which were the only injuries that occurred.

Maldonado was transported to the Lee County Jail and held on a $7,000 bond.

All defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.