January 15, 2024 – Sulphur Springs Police were dispatched to a Como Street Business over the weekend in response to a call about a suspicious vehicle at the business. The caller knew that the car was unfamiliar and knew the driver was not employed by the business. Upon arrival, officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver was slow to react and appeared to have trouble operating the vehicle. As officers approached the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV, they observed two open conatiners of alcoholic beverages as well as a 2 year old child in the back seat of the vehicle. The driver, Gretell Suarez Negrin exhibited signs of intoxication including bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. The driver was asked to exit the vehicle and perform standardized field sobriety tests which she failed. As the officers believed she was unable to safely operate a vehicle and with no other passengers, other than the 2 year old child, a towing service was called to impound the vehicle. Local Child Protective Services were contacted to transport the child from the scene. Suarez Negrin was then taken to a local hospital as a search warrant was issued for a blood draw on the driver to ascertain a proper blood alcohol level. Gretell Suarez Negrin, age 30, remains in the Hopkins County Jail with the charge of Driving While Intoxicated with a child under15 years of age, which is a State Jail Felony. The bond for Gretell Suarez Negrin is set at $100,000 on the charge.
