Man facing charges after crashing car

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man is facing charges after he allegedly took a vehicle without permission while intoxicated, crashed the car and fled the scene early Tuesday morning.

Shortly after midnight the Moses Lake Police Department received a report of a rollover collision in the 1700 block of West Peninsula Drive. Officers responded and located the vehicle upside down in the middle of the street, according to Capt. Mike Williams.

The vehicle was unoccupied, but a witness was able to identify the driver as Antonio Cantu, 32, of Moses Lake. Cantu was located in the area of the collision and admitted to being the driver of the car. He claimed he tried to adjust the radio in the car, looked up and the next thing he knew he was upside down.

Police learned Cantu, who was not injured, took the vehicle without permission from the registered owner. Cantu was booked into the Grant County Jail for taking a motor vehicle without permission, DUI, hit-and-run and third-degree driving with a suspended license. A search warrant was obtained for Cantu’s blood to determine his blood alcohol content and a sample of his blood was sent to the Washington State Crime Lab for analysis.

“If you find yourself driving a stolen car with a suspended license after consuming alcohol, we strongly recommend you pull to the side of the road before adjusting the radio. Just kidding. Don’t do it. Any of it. Just don’t,” Williams said.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.