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Last updated on Monday, December 1, 2014
(SULLIVAN CO.) - A Farmersburg man allegedly admits to drinking ‘too much’ before crashing into trees.
According to the probable cause affidavit, 22-year-old Ellis told officers that he had crashed, but had no passengers and was not hurt. Police say Ellis's eyes were watery and bloodshot, and that he smelled of alcohol. When Ellis was asked how much he had to drink, he told police, "too much."
Ellis was arrested on Nov. 14, and is charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and operating a vehicle while intoxicated without incident.
Two officers with the Sullivan County Sheriff's Department, Justin Bell and Josh Cary, were dispatched to a residence shortly after 2 a.m., when a call was made about an altercation between Ellis and two friends. According to the police report, the friends say Ellis had punched both of them before leaving in a small, blue car.
They allegedly added that they were concerned about Ellis, as he was intoxicated and they worried that he might not make it home. Bell stated that he and Cary left the home and eventually spotted a vehicle that matched the description of the car Ellis had been driving, off the road.
The car had apparently been driven into some small trees and then stopped in a field, near the intersection of County Road 400 South and State Road 58. Airbags were deployed, Bell reported.
Bell and Cary allegedly spotted a male walking northbound along the railroad tracks, from Merom Station Road toward State Road 58, but he ducked out of sight. Bell's report states that they then located the male hiding in the brush near the woods, and took him into custody. He was identified as Ellis.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Ellis told officers that he had crashed, but had no passengers and was not hurt. Bell reported that Ellis's eyes were watery and bloodshot, and that he smelled of alcohol. When Ellis was asked how much he had to drink, Bell reported that he said, "Too much."
The police report states that Ellis admitted to drinking vodka with friends and arguing with them, though he could not remember what started the confrontation. He allegedly said that he was driving too fast - around 70 miles per hour - when he approached the T-intersection, and that he did hit the trees before his vehicle slid into the field.
Bell reported that he administered field sobriety tests, which Ellis failed, and then gave him a preliminary breath test, which showed a 0.18 blood alcohol level. Bell further reported that he advised Ellis of the Implied Consent Warning, and Ellis agreed to a chemical test.
Ellis was taken to the Sullivan County Jail and his vehicle was towed. At the jail, he allegedly took a chemical breath test, and results were a 0.14 alcohol level.
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