Briefly In Public Safety: Officer injured near DUI checkpoint

A motorcycle officer sustained minor injuries this weekend near a sobriety checkpoint at Oak Street and Hollywood Way, authorities said.

The motorist made a U-turn about 9:30 p.m. Saturday in front of the officer to avoid the checkpoint, slamming into the motorcycle and sending the officer into a parked car, police said.

The officer was taken to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center and later released with minor injuries, police said.

Police Sgt. Robert Quesada said the officer was chasing a motorist northbound on Hollywood Way for an unrelated traffic violation. As he gave chase, a driver in the southbound lane made a sharp U-turn to avoid the checkpoint, hitting the officer as he maneuvered into a northbound lane.

The driver who struck the officer was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Officers this weekend impounded six vehicles and arrested three motorists on suspicion of driving under the influence at the sobriety checkpoint.

Authorities screened nearly 850 vehicles in the six-hour period, issuing six citations to unlicensed drivers and three for equipment violations, Quesada said. The operation was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

A similar operation in August saw about 100 more motorists, but none was arrested for driving under the influence.