Police: Sleeping driver awakes, tries to flee
OAKLAND TWP — A sleeping driver in a sport utility vehicle woke up parked on a road just past midnight Wednesday and led state police on a brief pursuit before being arrested, authorities said.
Ian M. Moore, 23, of Oakland Township, is accused of fleeing police and driving under the influence in the incident, which began with a call around 12:10 a.m. for a welfare check.
The caller reported that a Ford Escape was parked in a travel lane at Center Drive and Hohn Farm Road in Oakland Township with a man at the steering wheel who was not moving, police said.
Two troopers got there, approached the SUV and tried to make contact with Moore, police said. The officers believed he was sleeping and they noticed an open can of beer in the cup holder.
The vehicle was in park and the doors were locked.
“Moore regained consciousness and immediately, upon seeing troopers at his driver side window, put the vehicle in gear and fled the scene, ” according to charging documents.
During the pursuit, police said, Moore crossed the center line several times. The pursuit ended without incident a short time later on McGinley Road.
Moore submitted to a portable breath test device, which indicated he had alcohol in his system, police said. He also allegedly admitted to smoking marijuana about 90 minutes earlier.
Troopers searched the vehicle and allegedly found suspected marijuana and a Subutex pill. Subutex is the brand name for the narcotic pain reliever buprenorphine.
Police took Moore to Butler Memorial Hospital for a blood test. Toxicology results are pending.
District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned Moore on a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude police and misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, two counts of reckless endangerment, driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs, DUI and possession of a small amount of marijuana.
He also was cited for five traffic violations. He was placed in the Butler County Prison in lieu $5,000 bond following arraignment.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 3 at District Judge Lewis Stoughton's office in Chicora. Online court records did not list an attorney for him.
