Driver Gets Two DUIs in 17 Hours

It was what Capitola Sgt. Matt Eller called "a patch of bad luck" that landed Michael McNeely, 56, of Santa Cruz, in jail twice in two days for three crimes over the weekend.

At 11:05 p.m. Saturday night, Eller said McNeely "hit a car with some folks in it" at 750 47th Ave. in Capitola. There was minimal damage to the car and no injuries, but he was arrested for DUI and released hours later with a court date.

By Sunday morning, McNeely was back behind the wheel. A witness reported seeing him do a U-turn at Topaz and 47th, hit and roll over a parked car and flee the scene. No one was inside the parked car, Eller said. 

Police searched the area but could not find McNeely, until about 4:50 p.m. when there was a report that a car matching the description of McNeely's had collided with a light poll at the DMV on Capitola Road. A witness to that accident took McNeely's keys until police arrived and he was arrested again for DUI and hit and run. 

He was once again taken to Santa Cruz County Jailed and released hours later.

While many repeat offenders are well-known to local police departments, Eller said McNeely's name hadn't come across his radar recently until last weekend.

Three damaged cars and two arrests have left McNeely with a trio of impending court appearances to answer for his weekend of mayhem.

Want Patch in your inbox every morning? Sign up for our free newsletter here.