A Perry man was arrested by a Dallas County Deputy Sheriff last Monday night and charged with drunk driving and several other crimes after his vehicle allegedly collided with a Perry Police Department patrol vehicle earlier in the evening.
Justin Lee Gilliland, 32, of 1014 Graceland Ave., Perry, was arrested about 9:15 p.m. Monday in the 18000 block of 130th Street in Perry and charged with second-offense OWI, criminal mischief, driving while license suspended, striking unattended vehicle, no insurance and improper use of lanes.
According to court records, a deputy sheriff’s accident report and a Perry Police report, the incident began when a Perry Police Department officer responded to a reported assault about 8 p.m. at 1014 Graceland Ave.
The officer “was on scene speaking with the female party” when the suspected assailant, later identified as Gilliland, “came back to the scene and then left again.” The female then informed the officer that “Justin had struck his patrol car with the red Grand Caravan he was found driving.”
The officer reviewed the “the in-car camera footage” and saw Gilliland’s vehicle “turn westbound onto Graceland Avenue from Iowa Highway 144” and then strike the patrol car as the Grand Caravan “turned north into the driveway at 1014 Graceland Ave.”
Gilliland left the scene of the collision and was stopped about 8:45 p.m. by a Dallas County Deputy Sheriff in the 18000 block of 130th Street west of Perry after the deputy observed the suspect’s vehicle “cross the center line and partially into the oncoming lane.”
The deputy made contact with Gilliland, who was emitting “the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage” and presented “bloodshot watery eyes and irregular behavior.” The deputy said Gilliland “agreed to testing but would not comply during the field sobriety testing” and “then refused further testing and the preliminary breath test.”
The deputy arrested Gilliland, who allegedly urinated in the deputy’s patrol vehicle and later on the floor in the jail booking room. By about 10:45 p.m., Gilliland blew a .164 in a breath alcohol concentration test.
Gilliland was released Tuesday from the Dallas County Jail after posting $1,000 bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Sept. 20 in Dallas County District Court.
Gilliland was convicted last month in Dallas County District Court of first-offense OWI and interference with official acts.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
