BUTLER TWP — Police on Tuesday afternoon stopped a 65-year-old man allegedly intoxicated and riding a lawn mower on Route 422.

The suspect, William Johnston of Franklin Township, a double amputee, had driven two miles on the Craftsman mower to buy liquor at Moraine Pointe Plaza, township police said.

The road trip cost Johnston a ticket for public drunkenness.

A motorist apparently spotted him traveling west on the berm of Route 422 and called authorities shortly before 5 p.m.

Johnston had already made it past the Benbrook Road overpass by the time officers stopped him at 5:05 p.m. near Noto Custom Welding about a mile from the shopping center.

“He was glassy eyed, had slurred speech and was somewhat confused,” said Detective Sgt. Nathan Teslik, reading from the police report.

Johnston acknowledged he had driven the mower “the back way” to the state liquor store at the shopping plaza. He went there “to purchase four bottles of liquor,” the report said.

He told officers that he decided to take a more direct route back home, when he was stopped.

Police called a tow truck operator to pick up the mower. The operator gave Johnston and the mower a courtesy ride back home.

Under state law, a person can be charged with driving under the influence for operating a riding lawn mower, which is classified as a “motor vehicle,” on a public road.

Teslik said he did not know if the investigating officer considered possible DUI charges.

“I’m just glad he didn’t get run over by another vehicle,” Teslik said of Johnston.

Johnston, who has an unlisted telephone number, could not be reached for comment.