A Bunnell man's first mistake was getting behind the wheel of his pickup truck while drunk, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
His next two mistakes were hitting a Putnam County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle and then driving away.
Michael Natale, 42, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or more; DUI with property damage; Leaving the scene of an accident with property damage; and possession of hashish.
Natale was lodged at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, also known as the Green Roof Inn, where he was later released on $3,250 bail.
The incident occurred Sunday, Oct. 26, when a Putnam County Sheriff's Office deputy was assisting a disabled vehicle on State Road 100 near the county line, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
A Ford F-150 pickup truck crashed into the Putnam deputy's patrol vehicle, damaging its mirror. According to the sheriff's office, the pickup truck continued driving.
The Putnam County trooper followed the pickup for about a mile until the driver, Natale, stopped, the sheriff's office said.
The Flagler County Sheriff's Office said Natale fell asleep in his vehicle while a deputy responded.
A police officer asked Natale to get out of his truck, and when he did, he stumbled and staggered as he stood up. The officer noticed he smelled of alcohol and his eyes were glassy and bloodshot, the sheriff's office said.
According to the sheriff's office, Natale failed a field sobriety test and was arrested.
Officers searched Natale and found an e-cigarette device containing THC, the sheriff's office said.
Natale administered breath tests in prison. On the first test, his blood alcohol content was 0.161; the second value was 0.149, according to the sheriff's office.
A blood alcohol level of 0.08 or more is considered legal drunk driving under Florida law.
“This guy's decision to get behind the wheel was very stupid and dangerous, and his decision not to stop after hitting a trooper's car was even stupider,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in the news release. “I am grateful that the Putnam County deputy was not injured by this drunk driver. This is a reminder that you should not drink while driving or you will be visiting new bars at the Green Roof Inn.”
This article originally appeared in the Daytona Beach News-Journal: Bunnell man charged with drunken driving, accused of hitting deputy's patrol car