Early Wednesday morning at 1:21am, a Brownwood police officer on patrol noticed a dually pickup travelling on Baker through the intersection of Fisk Avenue that was driving erratically, swerving from shoulder to shoulder of the roadway according to a report. The police report stated that the officer followed the pickup as it meandered through the downtown area, until it turned north on Milton Street then onto Pecos Street.
The report noted the vehicle was seen pulling into a private parking lot where it struck another vehicle while trying to park. The report stated that the officer then activated his lights and approached the vehicle to see if the occupant was injured or in need of medical help. A white male, identified in the report as 35-year-old Michael Hamilton, exited the driver’s side door and stagger about 3 feet. When asked if he had had anything to drink, he had admitted drinking two beers the report states. The officer noted Hamilton to be extremely unsteady on his feet, with glassy and bloodshot eyes, along with slurred speech.
As noted in the report, the officer gave standard field sobriety tests which Hamilton failed. The officer believed Hamilton was intoxicated and had witnessed him driving the pickup; therefore Hamilton was placed under arrest for Driving While Intoxicated according to the report. It was further noted in the report that Hamilton had been arrested two previous times for DWI. A blood sample was requested of Hamilton, who refused. The officer reported that he then took Hamilton to Judge Griffin’s residence where a search warrant was signed for Hamilton’s blood. He was then transported to BRMC where the sample of blood was obtained.
In an unrelated report, an officer was dispatched to the 1300 block of Magnolia in reference to a burglary of a habitation. A .45 caliber pistol was stolen while the complainant was gone on Spring Break. No arrests have been made but it was noted that his roommate had had a party during this time.