GOBLES, Mich. – A 35-year-old man has been taken into custody, accused of drinking & driving, crashing his pickup truck into a local church, and running from the scene.
At approximately 5:00 a.m. Friday, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office was called out to the Journey Family Church in Gobles. Someone who lives next to the church reported that they were awoken by a pickup truck that had just crashed into the church.
When deputies arrived, they noticed significant damaged had been done to the church, caused by a 2000 Chevy Silverado. The driver was nowhere to be found.
Officers were able to obtain the name of the registered owner, and began to search the area. Michigan State Police Troopers would eventually come into contact with him at a nearby residence. The suspect denied driving the truck, and police describe him as being “clearly intoxicated.” A K-9 unit tracked the suspect’s scent from the scene of the accident, to the home where he was found, further evidence that the man was indeed driving at the time of the crash.
The suspect was uncooperative as he was taken into custody for Operating While Intoxicated and Failing to Stop and Identify at the scene of a crash. His arraignment has been delayed to his level of intoxication.
