Police pulled over a 27-year-old Texas mom Ivana Dolores Salazar recently for suspicion of driving under the influence, and the Texas mom was arrested for DUI. She told the cops she just got off work and was on her way to pick up her 5-month-old baby, stating no one else was in the vehicle. But officers, who also spotted an open container with a red liquid in it, looked in the backseat of her car and you’ll never believe what they saw.
According to El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte, it happened in El Paso, Texas, around 1:30 a.m. on April 6 this year, 2025. Police pulled Salazar over when she failed to signal a lane change. When they did, officers spotted the clear glass cup with the red liquid. They suspected Salazar was driving under the influence and asked her to step out of the vehicle. After she did, they searched Salazar’s car and found the child she mentioned earlier — who Salazar told police she was on her way to pick up — improperly secured car seat in the backseat of her Mercedes.
Salazar Insisted She Was Alone
According to Sheriff Ugarte, El Paso police gave Salazar one more chance to explain herself. Salazar again claimed she was driving alone, en route to get her kid. The cops showed her the baby in the backseat. At that time, police allege Salazar became uncooperative, insisting she didn’t know the child was there.
Police arrested Salazar and charged her with Driving While Intoxicated with a Passenger Under 15 Years of Age and Endangering a Child. Officials booked Salazar at the El Paso County Jail with her bond set at $23,000. Using what’s reportedly called a PR bond, authorities released Salazar that same day on personal recognizance. According to The El Paso Times, Salazar didn’t have enough money to pay her bond, but the court agreed to let her go under certain conditions. Texas authorities did not disclose what those conditions were.
As for the kid, El Paso Fire Medical Services assessed the baby’s condition at the scene of the traffic stop. Officials then transported the baby to a nearby hospital for further evaluation, and according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Child Protective Services was notified. Officials then released the child to a “responsible party,” Sheriff Ugarte’s update said.
