Officer’s car hit by alleged drunk illegal

A man believed to be in the country illegally was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after he allegedly ran his car into a Ridgeland Police cruiser last week.

The man, Luis Antonio Alcaraz-Medino, 43, was arrested and charged with DUI, careless driving, no insurance, and no driver’s license. 

Ridgeland Police Chief Brian Myers said Alcaraz-Medino is in the country illegally, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have put a hold on him for further investigation.

Alcaraz-Medino was arrested on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at about 4 p.m. after he struck a Ridgeland Police car on the I-220 ramp to I-55 traveling at “a high rate of speed,” Myers said.

The officer had to be extricated from his vehicle and was transported to a local hospital, as was Alcaraz-Medino. 

Alcaraz-Medino was released from the hospital that day and was taken into custody by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, which investigated the wreck. 

Myers said the officer was able to “walk away” from the wreck and has been released from the hospital.

“We are pleased our officer is going to be okay and pleased there were no fatalities,” Myers said.

Myers offered a “special thanks” to the Madison Police Department and MCSO for responding to the incident along with RPD.