Muncie man puts child behind wheel in bid to avoid arrest for drunk driving
Police said a Muncie man driving drunk -- and with a suspended license -- tried to avoid arrest Tuesday night by hurriedly putting a 12-year-old passenger behind the wheel.
Bill Curtis, a Delaware County sheriff's deputy, said James C. Storie, 33, was driving a Chevrolet mini-van down Macedonia Avenue when he drove past Curtis, who was working an Operation Pullover detail, aimed at reducing impaired driving.
After Curtis turned around in anticipation of pulling the mini-van over, Storie turned down Burlington Drive and onto other southeastside streets, apparently hoping to avoid the deputy.
When the stop was made, Curtis found a 12-year-old girl behind the wheel, with Storie and two other pre-teenagers also in the van.
The "driver" was identified as the daughter of Storie's girlfriend.
"It's certainly something I had not seen (before)," Curtis said of Storie's alleged bid to avoid responsibility for his illegal driving.
Tests measured Storie's blood-alcohol content at 0.17 percent after the Muncie man failed a field sobriety test, according to a probable cause affidavit. In Indiana, motorists with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher are considered intoxicated.
Storie was taken to the Delaware County jail, preliminarily charged with neglect of a dependent, driving while intoxicated and driving while suspended. Police also determined there were numerous warrants for Storie's arrest alleging he had failed to pay and comply with child-support court orders.
Muncie man puts child behind wheel in bid to avoid arrest for drunk driving | thestarpress.com | The Star Press
Bill Curtis, a Delaware County sheriff's deputy, said James C. Storie, 33, was driving a Chevrolet mini-van down Macedonia Avenue when he drove past Curtis, who was working an Operation Pullover detail, aimed at reducing impaired driving.
After Curtis turned around in anticipation of pulling the mini-van over, Storie turned down Burlington Drive and onto other southeastside streets, apparently hoping to avoid the deputy.
When the stop was made, Curtis found a 12-year-old girl behind the wheel, with Storie and two other pre-teenagers also in the van.
The "driver" was identified as the daughter of Storie's girlfriend.
"It's certainly something I had not seen (before)," Curtis said of Storie's alleged bid to avoid responsibility for his illegal driving.
Tests measured Storie's blood-alcohol content at 0.17 percent after the Muncie man failed a field sobriety test, according to a probable cause affidavit. In Indiana, motorists with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher are considered intoxicated.
Storie was taken to the Delaware County jail, preliminarily charged with neglect of a dependent, driving while intoxicated and driving while suspended. Police also determined there were numerous warrants for Storie's arrest alleging he had failed to pay and comply with child-support court orders.
Muncie man puts child behind wheel in bid to avoid arrest for drunk driving | thestarpress.com | The Star Press
