Police release DUI suspect over diplomatic immunity

ROSWELL, Ga. — The son of a Mexican Navy admiral won't spend any time in jail after Roswell police pulled him over on suspicion of drunken driving and excessive speeding.
 
According to a police report obtained by Channel 2's Mike Petchenik, Mariano Saynez-Ruiz-Duran was spotted speeding on Georgia 400 near Holcomb Bridge Road early Friday morning. 
 
"He was clocked going 91 mph in a 65 mph speed zone. That's super speeder law violation," said Officer Lisa Holland of the Roswell Police Department.
 
When officers pulled him over, the report said Saynez-Ruiz-Duran told police he'd had a few vodkas at a Buckhead club.  The report said Saynez-Ruiz-Duran's blood alcohol level was 0.126 and that he urinated in his pants during the stop.
 
When officers went to arrest the 39-year-old, they learned he was a vice consular at the Mexican Consulate General's Atlanta office.  The report said a call to the State Department confirmed his status and that he had partial immunity, and couldn't be arrested.
 
"He was released with citations for DUI and super speeder," Holland told Petchenik.
 
Barry Martin, the director of Georgia Mothers Against Drunk Driving, told Petchenik he believes police should have arrested Saynez-Ruiz-Duran.
 
"I understand the need for diplomatic immunity, but law enforcement does have the right to act when the safety of the public is in jeopardy," Martin said.  "To let him go on the scene is a fairly dangerous idea."
 
Petchenik contacted the Consulate General's office, but a spokesman told him it hadn't yet received word of the DUI stop and had no comment.  Petchenik also visited Saynez-Ruiz-Duran's Johns Creek home, but a woman who answered had no comment.

WSBTV