BEDFORD — A Bedford man was arrested Tuesday evening on multiple alcohol and driving-related offenses after he allegedly struck a parked vehicle in a fast-food restaurant parking lot while driving under the influence.
Skylar Shirey, 29, of Bedford, faces charges including operating a vehicle while intoxicated, OWI-endangerment, and driving while his driver’s license was suspended.
The incident occurred on November 11, at approximately 6:45 p.m. Bedford Police Department Officer Sarah Haluda was dispatched to the KFC on James Avenue regarding a property-damage accident involving two vehicles. The 911 caller reported that one driver was missing and the other appeared to be under the influence.
Upon arrival, Officer Haluda located Skylar Shirey standing next to a maroon Ford sedan that was parked improperly over the line. According to the probable cause affidavit, Shirey immediately told the officer he was “under the influence” and that she was “going to take him to jail.”
Officer Haluda noted a strong odor of alcohol on Shirey’s breath and person. She described him as animated, giggling, with red, glassy eyes. Shirey admitted to consuming “half a fifth of Jägermeister” before coming to the location and stated he had moved the Ford from a previous parking spot, but did not recall striking another vehicle. Officer Haluda also observed that Shirey had urinated on himself.
At the Bedford Police Department, Shirey agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tests, which he failed.
A portable breath test sample provided by Shirey registered a blood alcohol content of 0.158, which is nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08%. Shirey also admitted to using marijuana. The certified chemical test conducted by the officer registered a final BrAC of .160 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.
While Officer Haluda was processing Shirey, Captain Emmons spoke with witnesses at the KFC. A witness confirmed that Shirey was the driver who struck a parked Chevrolet while attempting to enter a parking space. The witness stated that Shirey tried to park the Ford several times, “hopping the parking curb several times” before striking the Chevrolet with enough force to push it over the parking curb as well.
Shirey was transported to the Lawrence County Jail for housing on charges including operating a vehicle while intoxicated, OWI endangerment, OWI per SE, operating a vehicle while never obtaining a driver’s license with a prior conviction, and driving while his driver’s license was suspended.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.