Councilman De La Fuente arrested, suspected of DUI

(12-24) 16:40 PST OAKLAND -- Oakland City Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving Thursday night, the California Highway Patrol said.

De La Fuente was pulled over for speeding near the Fruitvale Avenue exit of eastbound Interstate 580 in Oakland at about 7:30 Thursday night, CHP Officer Sam Morgan said. CHP clocked De La Fuente at about 80 mph in a 65-mile-an-hour zone.

The arresting officer "noticed impairment" after talking to De La Fuente and conducted a field sobriety test, Morgan said. That test further confirmed the officer's suspicion that De La Fuente was intoxicated, and the councilman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, a misdemeanor.

De La Fuente was taken to the North County Jail in Downtown Oakland where he was given a blood test, Morgan said. Morgan would not release De La Fuente's blood-alcohol level, but said preliminary results showed it was at least .08 percent.

Typically, a 180-pound man has to consume at least four drinks to be that intoxicated.

In an interview, De La Fuente said he would not comment on his arrest until he and his attorney were able to view the CHP's final report.

The councilman's wife, Elvia De La Fuente, picked him up from the jail Thursday night, Morgan said.

De La Fuente, 61, was driving alone in his 2006 Buick when he was arrested, Morgan said.

He was first elected to the council in 1992. According to Department of Motor Vehicles records, De La Fuente was involved in a collision in July 2010. Alcohol was not a factor.

E-mail Will Kane at wkane@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page C - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle