Crime

Central Kentucky man charged with driving lawn mower while drunk and high, police say

Willie Waters wasn’t driving a car when police stopped him before 3 a.m. Monday morning, but that didn’t help him avoid a driving under the influence charge.

Waters, a 54-year-old Frankfort resident, was found by police riding a green Craftsman lawn mower on Winding Way Drive in Frankfort, according to Waters’ arrest citation. The officer who stopped him, Christopher Gaines of the Frankfort Police Department, wrote in his citation that Waters admitted to having three alcoholic drinks.

Waters had slurred speech and appeared to be drunk, Gaines wrote. Waters failed a field sobriety test after “showing six out of six indicators,” Gaines wrote. Waters said he had a medical condition that kept him from keeping his balance, Gaines wrote.

Gaines was originally called to the scene for a noise complaint. Someone had called police because of how loud Waters’ lawn mower was, Gaines wrote. When he found Waters, the lawn mower had no front or rear lights, Gaines wrote.

Waters later admitted to smoking marijuana and drinking “a half-pint of vodka,” according to the arrest citation. A blood test indicated “the presence of alcohol,” according to the arrest citation.

Waters was charged with operating a non-motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants, according to court records. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 6.

This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 2:30 PM.

Jeremy Chisenhall
Lexington Herald-Leader
Jeremy Chisenhall covers criminal justice and breaking news for the Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com. He joined the paper in 2020, and is originally from Erlanger, Ky.
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