A Perry man was arrested for drunk driving Thursday in connection with the Dec. 7 incident in which his vehicle struck the Dallas County Freedom Rock in Minburn.
Kevin Villa, 21, of 511 Second St., Perry, was charged with first-offense OWI.
Villa suffered minor injuries when his 2013 BMW 328I left the roadway of U.S. Highway 169 in Minburn about 4 a.m. and struck the 18-ton symbol of patriotic pride, which had been dedicated seven weeks before in a solemn ceremony.
According to court records, a Dallas County Sheriff’s Deputy was “speaking to the defendant in the ambulance” after the mishap and “was able to detect a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting on or about his person.”
Villa “admitted to drinking four mixed drinks prior to the collision,” according to court records. He consented to a blood specimen request, and the Dec. 19 toxicology report indicated an ethyl alcohol concentration of .127 g/100ml of blood.
An arrest warrant was issued Dec. 23 by Dallas County Magistrate Andrea Flanagan and served Jan. 3. Villa is scheduled for arraignment Feb. 13 in Dallas County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
