It took a photograph to convince a Tabor City man that his car wasn’t stolen.
Tracy Dean Brown, 51, of 403 S. Lewis St., Tabor City, was charged with DWI in the Friday incident. He was released on a secured bond.
Lt. Gary Lewis reported that he was called to Tabor Villa Apartments just before 10 p.m. Major Russell Conway was on security detail at the apartments, and executed a traffic stop with Smith. The report said that Conway spotted the green Honda after it sat for “a long period of time with no traffic around” at the intersection of Green and Lewis streets.
As Conway drove past the vehicle, the report said, Brown turned into the apartments and pulled into a parking spot. Brown then stepped out of the vehicle with his hands in the air, according to the report, and “staggered over to Conway”. Officers detected a strong smell of alcohol.
Brown blew a .13 on a portable blood alcohol test, the report said, and had to be assisted to the patrol car. He blew a .17 on a fixed blood alcohol sensor at the police station, and was taken into custody.
On Saturday, the report said, Brown called 911 trying to find his vehicle. Lewis advised that the car was where it had been left the night before.
“He stated that he went by there several times and the vehicle wasn’t there,’ the report said. Lewis checked again, and the car was still at the apartment complex.
A short while later, Brown again called 911 to report his vehicle stolen. Lewis responded to the apartment complex and saw the car was still in the same place, the report said. When Lewis made contact with Brown, he insisted the car was not there, and that he had gone past the parking place several times.
Lewis showed Brown a photo of the car, and directed him to where it was parked.
