A Wayne man faces drunken driving charges after police say he drove his vehicle into his neighbor's gas meter with alcohol in his system.
Wayne police were called Jan. 18 to the 4200 block of Mildred on the report of a vehicle that had damaged a fence of a residence. When police arrived, they spoke to the driver, 61-year-old Jerry Morrow, who told police he backed up his car into the side of the neighbor's home while driving down his driveway.
A gas meter was struck, along with some non-electrical wires. Surrounding homes were evacuated because of a gas leak, though residents returned shortly after once it was deemed safe. The gas meter, fence and telephone cables were all damaged.
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While police were speaking to Morrow, they noticed a smell of intoxicants on him. They began doing field sobriety tests, all of which Morrow failed. Officers then conducted a preliminary breath test, which Morrow agreed to. He registered 0.277 percent, more than three times the legal limit of 0.08.
Morrow was arrested and charged with OWI. Police say he's had three other OWI charges out Westland, Wayne and Detroit during the past 15 years or so.
He was recently arraigned on drunken driving charges in Wayne's 29th District Court. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.
Contact David Veselenak at dveselenak@hometownlife.com or 734-678-6728. Follow him on Twitter @davidveselenak.