A local man who allegedly struck a building and another car last month while driving drunk was formally charged Wednesday with multiple counts after tests showed his blood alcohol content was almost five times over the legal limit.
Chad Francis Austin, 31, who lists a Lakeland Drive address, was taken into custody around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday on a felony charge of second-degree criminal mischief, punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated, second offense, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident, each punishable by up to one year in jail.
Austin, who was also cited for driving on a suspended license and having no proof of insurance, was later released on a $5,500 bond and is set to appear Nov. 10 in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Sept. 2, shortly before 11 a.m., Hot Springs police Officer 1st Class Richard Nunez responded to a hit-and-run wreck in the 3800 block of Central Avenue and made contact with Austin, who was standing outside a white 2007 Jeep that had reportedly been involved in two separate hit and run incidents.
Officer 1st Class Tyree Sampson had told The Sentinel-Record the day of the wrecks that the driver of a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo struck the Cash and Carry Liquor Store, 4738 Central, and then headed north, where he struck a 2013 Toyota Tacoma that was in the turn lane at 4108 Central.
The driver then reportedly continued northbound and attempted a U-turn in the 3800 block of Central, left the roadway to the right and collided with a large rock at 3826 Central Ave.
Nunez noted Austin had "red, bloodshot, watery eyes," and was unstable on his feet with slurred speech and a strong odor of intoxicants about him. Asked if he had been drinking, Austin allegedly said, "Yes, vodka." He initially denied being the driver of the Jeep, but then stated he was traveling from his home in Boston.
Austin reportedly agreed to take field sobriety tests, but Nunez noted he was unable to stand on his own and he had to hold him up to keep him from falling down. Austin agreed to take a portable Breathalyzer test, which registered his blood alcohol content as .309%, almost four times the legal limit.
Due to Austin having a bump on his head and "a bloody mouth," he was transported by LifeNet to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs where he reportedly consented to a blood draw that was sent to the state crime lab for testing. On Sept. 24, Nunez received the report from the crime lab that showed Austin's blood-alcohol was .374%, almost five times the limit.
The affidavit notes damages to the liquor store were approximately $60,000, including $35,000 for damages to the building itself and $25,000 for contents inside. The estimate of damages to the Tacoma was $6,000.
According to court records, Austin was previously arrested for DWI on Jan. 7, 2020, and pleaded guilty on Feb. 13.