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A Norwalk man told Darien Police he was too intoxicated to get out of his car to perform field sobriety tests as police investigated a minor traffic accident Sunday afternoon, police said.
Samuel Meek, 61, of 9 Shorefront Parkway, was charged with driving while under the influence, driving with an expired license and unsafe backing, police said.
Police said that a vehicle owner noticed another vehicle back into his vehicle and drive away at about 5 p.m. He called 911 and followed the vehicle to 157 Rowayton Ave., about a mile away, where the suspect's vehicle had stopped, police said.
When officers arrived, the suspect was still in the vehicle with the engine running, police said. He explained that he had backed into the other vehicle but didn't notice any damage, and told police he believed there was "no harm, no foul" and drove away.
When officers asked him to get out of his 2002 Audi, he said he couldn't "because he was too intoxicated," Sgt. Jeremiah Marron said.
He eventually got out but performed poorly on the field sobriety tests, including starting to walk before the instructions were completed and telling officers he couldn't perform one of the tests because he was too intoxicated, police said.
He refused to take a breathalyzer test and was released on $500 bond, police said. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 19.
Police said he has a previous DWI from 2005.
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