Habitual Drunk Driver Arrested Again
SELMA — A man with previous impaired driving convictions was arrested early Sunday morning after deputies reportedly found him unresponsive behind the wheel of his truck on a Johnston County highway.
Around 3:41 a.m. Jan. 11, a deputy discovered Emanuel Mercado-Santeliz, 28, of Stockbridge Drive in Selma, sitting behind the wheel in a running 2003 Dodge pickup on NC 42 East near NC 96. Officers said multiple bottles of alcohol were visible in the cab.
Mercado-Santeliz reportedly refused a breathalyzer test. Deputies later obtained a search warrant to collect a blood sample as part of the investigation.
He was charged with habitual impaired driving, open container of alcohol, and driving on a revoked license stemming from a prior impairment revocation.
Court records show Mercado-Santeliz was convicted of habitual impaired driving in 2025 following a 2024 DWI arrest in Johnston County. He also has previous impaired driving convictions in Wake County in 2024 and Durham County in 2023.
Mercado-Santeliz was taken before a magistrate and confined in the Johnston County Detention Center on a $250,000 secured bond.
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11 Comments
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…and judges keep letting him out with impunity. Until judges are held accountable, nothing will ever change.
@Jennifer: Then stop voting for the same people! The judges and DAs in Wake, Durham, and JoCo have a 97% re-election rate over the past 20 years. Votera have no one to blame but themselves. #reapWhatYouVote
It’s a shame that realistically someone will likely die because of this guy before something more is done than a quick stint in jail.
It is a shame that some people got punished and pulled time for habitual driving, I lost my license, my rights to ever drive again, went to prison and pulled 18 moths as a result of that but I dDID learn a valuable lesson and stay far far away from it . I had never been in trouble until trama occurred in my life I resorted to drinking so what is different between him and me I am an American with an American name committed a crime but accepted my punishment this person gets a slap on the wrist WHY?? I am THANKFUL I did hurt anyone but myself and it will affect me for the rest of my life so help me understand.. I am 65 and still being punished!!
A: you don’t have a right to drive B: you aren’t being punished, you are facing consequences. C: I agree with you that some people, for some reason, don’t face the same consequences as others and that is because of the judge who imposes the consequence. There should be a standard consequence for the same crime. I am happy you have understand how dangerous drunk driving is and that you have managed to adapt and overcome. I hope you can share your experience with others to help prevent drunk drivers from killing people. I hate that some people have family members taken away because of drunk drivers, never to see them again and are separated from them forever. God speed.
He is one of those that will never learn. He won’t stop until it is too late. Incarcerate him day-for-day what the law will allow and each time he is caught behind the wheel there after… drunk or sober. Nobody has a “right” to drive upon the highways. It is merely a privilege.
How many strikes is he going to get before he kills someone? And, is he even legal?
And the truck? Not still at his disposal for next time?
I guess he keeps on getting a slap on the wrist until he kills someone.
Is $250,000 dollars worth a pending tragedy on the highways? Don’t release him.
Deport him