Officers from the Bellefontaine Police Department were dispatched to Speedway, 329 South Main Street, to meet with an employee about a suspicious vehicle Monday evening around 6:10.
Upon arrival, officers were met by an employee and two bystanders who stated the male in the vehicle had been sleeping at the gas pump for two hours. The male was in a white commercial van and was passed out in the driver’s seat.
A tall, opened can of Bud Light Chelada was visible in the cup holder.
The driver eventually woke up, and the odor of an alcoholic beverage was present when he turned his head to face the officer. His eyes were red, bloodshot, and appeared glassy. When asked for his identification, he provided officers with an ID card from Mexico.
The male was identified as Sergio Perez, 45, of Dayton. He spoke broken English.
He was asked to exit the vehicle and he stumbled as he stepped out. When asked how many alcoholic beverages he consumed, he stated that the one in the cup holder was his only beer. Police observed approximately eight empty tall cans of alcoholic beverages in the vehicle.
Assistance was called to the scene.
Perez agreed to perform field sobriety tests and failed.
He was placed under arrest for open container and physical control of a vehicle while under the influence.
Perez was transported to the Bellefontaine Police Department. He agreed to a breath test. His BAC yielded a 0.284, just over three times the legal limit.
He was released to a sober driver.
