(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County Police say man posing a hazard to other motorists repeatedly offered money to the officer who pulled him over to keep from being arrested for drunk driving.

 

His alleged efforts proved futile, though.

 

Mario Mendoza Diaz, 41, of South Bend is charged with operating while intoxicated and bribery.

 

According to police, an officer Saturday night began looking for a vehicle described by a motorist as unable to stay in its lane of travel and maintain a consistent speed on U.S. 20 near 300 West.

 

Police said an officer after spotting the vehicle began following it then pulled it over after the driver veered over the center line and disregarded a stop sign at 300 West and 800 North.

 

Diaz on numerous occasions allegedly offered the officer money to let him go and at least twice pulled out his wallet.

 

Police said Diaz constantly yelled obscenities and even threatened to kill the officer during the trip to the La Porte County Jail.

 

The OWI charge was upgraded to a felony because of a prior OWI conviction within the past seven years, police said.