A Portage man was arrested for hitting at least 23 vehicles in a downtown parking lot, around 4 a.m. Wednesday (March 13).
Anthony Shrewsbury, 22, was cited for OVI with a BAC of 0.251 – more than three times the legal limit. He was also charged with not maintaining lanes of travel, reckless operation, open containers, operation off street or highway in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property, and a felony warrant through the Wood County Sheriff’s Office. He was taken to Wood County Jail.
Bowling Green Police started receiving calls of car windows being broken into at 3:58 a.m., in City Lot 2, located behind Junipers.
An officer arriving on the scene saw a vehicle leave the lot and turn eastbound on Clough Street. The vehicle reportedly drove over the curb on the south side of Clough Street, with both passenger side tires on the sidewalk.
A person watching the parking lot pointed to the vehicle and said it was involved in the crashes.
As the police initiated a traffic stop, Shrewsbury reportedly swerved in the 200 block of Clough Street. As he came to a stop, the driver maneuvered onto the curb and then back onto the roadway.
The officer observed a number of scrapes and damage to both sides of the maroon GMC Envoy. According to the police report, Shrewsbury had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and poor fine motor skills. There was a strong odor of alcohol from inside the vehicle.
When asked to present proof of insurance, Shrewsbury reportedly handed the officer a water and sewer bill.
The police report noted officers found two empty 50 ml bottles of alcohol in the driver’s door pouch, another one of the same size on the driver’s floorboard, an almost empty bottle of vodka and an empty Twisted Tea.
Shrewsbury reportedly had great difficulties performing the field sobriety tests. Police confiscated his operator’s license.
Officers went through City Parking Lot 2 and found 23 vehicles that had been struck.
