Reminiscent of Cousin Eddie coming to visit in “Christmas Vacation,” Bowling Green police and fire divisions responded on Tuesday to a broken down RV with an alleged drunk driver inside along with a dog and a bird.
Bowling Green Police were called to the area of Campbell Hill Road and East Wooster Street around 5 p.m., for a report of a vehicle leaking gas. They found an Airstream RV blocking the northbound lane of Campbell Hill. A large amount of gas could be seen under the vehicle.
Police talked with the driver, John Falzone, 67, of Newark, who stated in slurred speech that he couldn’t figure out what was wrong with the vehicle, according to the police report. Falzone seemed unaware of the leak and reportedly became aggravated when informed of the leak. With the RV door open, police reported an odor of alcohol.
BG Fire Division asked Falzone if the vehicle was in park, to which he reportedly stated that he had put the RV in park, however, the parking brake does not work. Falzone said he had been trying to start the vehicle again, but it would not start.
Falzone told police he had a dog and bird inside the RV. He reportedly said he had been driving around searching for a gas station. The fire division informed Falzone that he was next to a gas station.
Falzone was reportedly about to try starting the RV again, but fire and police officers ordered him not to do so.
Police asked Falzone to exit the vehicle for field sobriety tests. He reportedly tried to bring his dog outside with him. Police informed him that the dog needed to stay in the RV, however, Falcone let it out. An officer grabbed the dog’s leash and again advised Falzone that there was fuel all over the ground and it was not safe for the dog. Falzone was reportedly again surprised that the vehicle was leaking fuel.
When Falzone was asked to watch the tip of a pen with his eyes, he reportedly said to police, “C’mon mother——, do your thing.” Falzone was reportedly unable to track the pen, and unable to walk a straight line.
Falzone reportedly told police, “I haven’t been smoking no dope. Haven’t drinking no drugs.” He told police he couldn’t complete the tests because he was old. At some point, he yelled and stated he was done and began walking away. Police put him under arrest.
Falzone reportedly said he didn’t know why police were arresting him, since he was just trying to get back to Ohio. Police informed him that he was in Ohio.
During the drive to the police station, Falzone reportedly told the officer that he had a small sip of alcohol an hour earlier. However, tests at the station showed that he had a BAC of 0.147. While the RV was being inventoried, police reportedly found an open half empty bottle of vodka and a half burned marijuana joint.
Falzone was taken to the Wood County Jail, the dog was taken to the Wood County Dog Shelter, and the bird was taken to the police station.
Falzone was arrested for OVI, and cited for driving an unsafe vehicle, open container, and using marijuana in a vehicle.
