Space X Employee Arrested for Disorderly Conduct, Reckless Driving Warrant
HAWTHORNE, CA—SpaceX is a space technology company that is presently challenging the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s monopoly of space travel; Tesla Motors is an electric car company that is presently challenging the Big 3 automakers (Ford, General Motors and Chrysler); and Patrick Ray Morales, 37, is presently challenging southern California police agencies.
What is the relationship? All three entities report to Elon Musk, the owner of the first two and the employer of the latter.
Morales was arrested by Hawthorne police officers on Sunday, December 12 at approximately 2:30 a.m. for disorderly conduct: alcohol (647(F)PC). He was apprehended along the 3900 block of Jack Northrop just east of Prairie Avenue and south of the Hawthorne Municipal Airport. It is also just west of the SpaceX headquarters on Crenshaw Boulevard.
Bail for the violation was set at $250.
The Hesperia resident and former U.S. Navy serviceman was also found to have a warrant from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for reckless driving (23103(A)VC). Bail for that warrant (no. TV1902643) was set at $10,000.
SpaceX has been in the news of late owing to its recent space rocket launches in April and July. A third launch is scheduled for this Friday, and it is unknown if Morales will be back at work by then.
In an Esquire Magazine interview published in December 2012, Musk was quoted as having said, “‘There will probably be a lot of people that die.’”
In a Facebook posting the day he was arrested, Morales posted a picture of himself wearing a knit cap with the phrase “TOUGH MUDDER” on it. His smiling face was covered in what appears to be mud.
Although Morales will not die owing to his current arrest, he could be in for quite a ride once he is released.
