A Modesto teenager who was driving erratically and slid into a Ceres Police cruiser had been smoking pot just prior to the fender-bender and was arrested for DUI.

At 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19, Ceres Police Officer Ross Bays was on patrol in the 1400 block of Hatch Road when he spotted a blue Toyota Scion XB vehicle accelerating at a high rate of speed in the parking lot of the 99 Cent Store. The acceleration was so hard that the tires broke traction and began to squeal as they spun on the asphalt. The driver, Alexis Alejo, 18, of Modesto, then made an erratic U-turn and headed south towards Bays' car and came to a sliding stop just before striking the patrol car.

Alejo stated he had no idea Officer Bays was in the parking lot while he was driving erratically. Bays detected a strong smell of burnt marijuana inside the Scion. Alejo admitted he and friends has smoked marijuana in his car prior to dropping them off at work.

Alejo was determined to be too impaired to operate his car safely and was arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana. Alejo submitted to a blood sample which was conducted by staff at Doctors Medical Center.

Alejo was also booked at the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center for misdemeanor reckless driving.