A Duluth physician accused of reckless discharge of a firearm within a municipality, fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle and two counts of driving while under the influence of alcohol made his first appearance in St. Louis County District Court today.
Dr. Javier E. De La Garza, accompanied by his wife, Carla, and his attorney informed Judge Mark Munger that he understood the charges against him, and he waived a formal reading of the four-count criminal complaint against him.
Police say De La Garza fired one gunshot from his vehicle toward the ground in his Congdon Park driveway on Nov. 30. A neighbor called 911 and De La Garza drove away. Officers followed the vehicle into the parking lot at Spirit Mountain, where De La Garza was apprehended after an attempt to evade squad cars and spike strips.
Test results showed De La Garza had an alcohol concentration of .10. He posted $7,000 bail and was released from jail.
The doctor's next court appearance in St. Louis County District Court is scheduled for March 17.
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De La Garza also faces three charges of sexual assault in Wisconsin from a former patient.
His next appearance on those charges in Douglas County Circuit Court is scheduled for Feb. 26.
