A VAN pulled out from a West Bay Street restaurant and turned eastbound in front of a police car. The driver crossed the double yellow line three times and was weaving within his lane.
As the officer came up behind the driver, he noticed the right tag light was out and initiated a traffic stop. When the officer approached the vehicle, he noticed a strong smell of alcohol.
The driver was asked if he’d had anything to drink that night. He said that he had just one beer. The officer asked if he was sure, and the man said he was.
The man’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy. There was a small clear plastic cup with a light brown liquid with a lemon slice and a black straw sitting in the cup holder.
The officer asked the driver what was in the cup. The man picked the cup up, handed it to the officer and said, “Crown.” The beverage smelled of alcohol.
The driver was asked to step out of the car and have a word with the officer. He said he would, but when he stepped out of the car, he was very unsteady on his feet as he walked to the rear of the car.
The man was asked to take a preliminary breath test to make sure it was safe for him to drive home and he agreed. A second officer arrived on the scene and the test was given.
After failing the test, the man was arrested for driving under the influence, failure to maintain lane and not having a tag light. He agreed to take a breath test.
The car was turned over to the man’s co-worker, and his money was turned over to a passenger in the car. The final blood alcohol contest registered at .145 grams, and the man was taken to the Chatham County Detention Center.
• An officer saw a man sitting at the bus stop at West 40th and Barnard streets. When the officer approached, it became apparent he was asleep.
The officer woke the man and asked him if was okay. The man told the officer he was diabetic and was having an “attack,” although he smelled of alcohol.
The officer called EMS, which came to the scene and tested the man’s blood sugar. The reading was normal, so the man was placed under arrest for public drunkenness.
• A customer at a fast-food restaurant on White Bluff Road called police after a restaurant employee began threatening her family.
The victim said she and her nine- and seven-year-old children entered the store and ordered food. She said the suspect began cursing loudly at her in front of her children. The suspect then threatened to put “something” into their food.
When questioned by police, the suspect said the victim and her family eat at the restaurant weekly and are generally “picky” about the food they order. She said the victim said something to her about the food and she responded in “a genial way.”
She said the victim then made a phone call to her husband and said it sounded like she said “someone was going to take care” of her. Both women were given case report numbers.
• A Bryanwoods Circle resident called police after his 17-year-old daughter’s boyfriend came onto his property without permission. He said the young man became disorderly after he told him didn’t want him dating his daughter.
He said the teen began to shout obscenities and threatened to “have his family members take him out.” He said the boy also threatened to commit suicide if he couldn’t see the man’s daughter any longer. The man said the boy’s mother had to restrain him until police arrived.
An officer spoke with the boy, who said he was upset that the man refused to let him date his daughter. He was served with a banned form, meaning he can’t return to the man’s residence. He also was advised to stay away from the daughter’s school. cs
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