Thermal man arrested in alleged DUI incident identified

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has released the identity of a man who is accused of driving under the influence. 39-year-old Narciso Vargas of Thermal was arrested following an incident on Sunday, July 28 just before 2 a.m.

The La Quinta Special Enforcement Team was apparently watching two men, one they suspected to be Vargas, walking on Verbena Drive nearby a parked U-Haul truck with both doors open. Deputies suspected they had burglarized the U-Haul.

The two men apparently fled the area in a silver Chevorlet Trek. The vehicle and Vargas were later located in the 79600 block of Morning Glory Court. A second suspect was not found.

Deputies were speaking with Vargas in reference to the suspected burglary, and he became combative. A struggle ensued, and Vargas was taken into custody. Deputies say he was under the influence of alcohol.

According to deputies, a variety of construction tools were inside Vargas’ vehicle. Vargas claimed he did not know who the tools belonged to but believed they were stolen.

Vargas was booked into the county jail in Indio.