An Ashland man accused of driving drunk for a fifth time waived a preliminary hearing in Douglas County Circuit Court last week. Christopher John Houle, 41, faces one count of fifth offense operating while intoxicated.
According to the criminal complaint:
Superior police officers stopped a truck Houle was driving Jan. 25 after receiving a report of an intoxicated male threatening to beat up another man at the Superior Inn. As officers responded to the scene, they learned the man was driving away in a pickup truck.
Officer Casandra Collier, who was following the truck, saw the vehicle was nearly off the road up on the grass boulevard. She initiated a traffic stop.
Officer Jeffrey Dwyer detected a strong odor of intoxicants coming from the vehicle and Houle admitted drinking three beers earlier that night. Although state law defines operating while intoxicated as driving with a 0.08 alcohol concentration, Houle had an alcohol concentration restriction of 0.02 on his driver’s license.
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He was released on $1,000 cash bond. His next court appearance is March 11.
Superior Telegram