A man has been arrested on suspicion of DUI after he allegedly followed a driver to a Maverik gas station in Cortez, accused him of hitting his vehicle and attempted to fight with him.
About 12:33 a.m. on Nov. 27, police were dispatched to the Maverik gas station at 455 N. State St. after receiving reports of a road rage incident that involved an intoxicated driver.
The man who called 911 was identified as Evan Hunt, according to the police report, written by officer Charles Osborn. When officers arrived, Hunt told them that the driver of a white Jeep Gladiator with temporary Colorado registration had accused of him of hitting and damaging his Jeep, followed him to the Maverik gas station and attempted to fight.
Hunt said the driver then left the gas station, driving northbound on Colorado Highway 145.
Officer Andrew Archer found the Jeep traveling westbound on County Road L and stopped the vehicle on County Road L around the 25000 block.
When Osborn arrived to the scene of the investigation on Road L, Archer told him there were open containers of beer in the vehicle. The suspect, identified as Kenneth Myers, had red, glassy eyes and his breath smelled of alcohol, according to Osborn’s report.
Myers told police that Hunt’s vehicle had clipped his Jeep, damaging the driver-side taillight. Believing Hunt had inflicted the damage, Myers said he followed Hunt to Maverik, where the altercation took place.
Osborn observed the taillight, noting that it was broken and a piece dangled above the ground.
“The damage to the taillight appeared old as it was covered in dried mud, and Evans' vehicle was not damaged in such a manner that indicated he hit Kenneth's Jeep,” Osborn said.
When asked by officers how much he had drunk, he replied, “Not much,” before admitting there were alcohol containers in his Jeep.
After failing to competently complete roadside maneuvers, Myers was arrested by Osborn and taken to the hospital for a toxicology test. Archer remained with the Jeep until it could be towed.
Myers consented to the toxicology test and was found to have one prior conviction for DUI.
Later at the police station, Myers was released to his grandmother Debra Chadd instead of being transported to the county jail because he had been “cooperative and respectful during the arrest.”
Myers agreed to a Breathalyzer test, which gave a blood alcohol level of 0.243, according to the police report. In Colorado, a BAC of 0.08 is high enough to to be convicted of DUI absent any other form of impairment. An aggravated DUI charge permits enhanced penalties if BAC is 0.17 or higher.
Myers will appear in court for arraignment on Jan. 24 at 9 a.m.
