MITCHELL – A Mitchell man was arrested Monday morning when a Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department deputy responded to the area of Kings Ridge Road and US 50 West after a report of a male being aggressive toward a disabled motorist. The motorist’s vehicle had a flat tire.
When the deputy arrived, they found two vehicles, one being a maroon Jeep Cherokee with a male in the driver’s seat. That driver was 47-year-old Craig Hout. Police say Hout was intoxicated. In Hout’s lap between his thighs was a half-full beer can. Hout told police he was driving home from work in Bloomington. The officer noticed another unopened can of beer in Hout’s backpack.
Hout told police he had been sitting on the road for about 20 minutes waiting on the other driver to change the tire.
A witness told police Hout had been speeding up and down Kings Ridge Road causeing the witness’s vehicle to “shake when he drove by”.
Hout failed three standardized field sobriety tests.
Police say Hout maintained an abusive and confrontational demeanor during the duration of the police interaction. He blew a 0.156 on a portable breathalyzer.
He was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment and reckless driving.
