Man crashes vehicle into 4 cars, 2 trees

An intoxicated 19-year-old man was arrested early Sunday morning after he crashed a vehicle into four cars and two trees.

Dustin Ross faces preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, illegal consumption by a minor, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and vehicle theft. He was also wanted on a warrant for probation violation out of Lawrence County, said Bloomington Police Department Lt. David Drake, reading from a police report.  

Bloomington Police Department Officer Jeff Rees was dispatched at 1:02 a.m. Sunday to the 1000 block of Countryside Lane regarding a vehicle crash. When he approached the scene, he observed several trees knocked down and a vehicle smashed into a parked vehicle, Drake said.

Rees saw a person walking away in a neighboring yard from where the vehicle was and approached him.

Ross was so intoxicated he had trouble standing, Drake said. Ross failed a dexterity sobriety test. Police found marijuana and a marijuana smoking device in his pockets, Drake said.  

Two witnesses told police they saw Ross first hit a parked truck, then careen to one side of the road, striking two trees, then swerve back to the other side of the road, striking other vehicles. Ross then exited the vehicle and began walking away, despite witnesses telling him to remain at the scene, Drake said.  

When Ross was taken to BPD for a Breathalyzer test, he became very upset because
he could not smoke a cigarette, Drake said. Ross then cursed at Rees and threatened to beat him up, Drake said. Rees then had to remove Ross’ handcuffs to administer the Breathalyzer test. Once freed, Ross grabbed at Rees’ magazine pouch on his police belt and tried to spit on him, Drake said.

Ross was then put in the back of a police car where he continuously banged his head on the plexiglass, Drake said. Ross was then restrained by being hobbled by police, with both his hands and feet tied together.  When police spoke with the owner of the vehicle, he said Ross had lived with him for about a month, he had never given Ross permission to take his vehicle and he wanted to report it stolen, Drake said.  

Ross was taken to the Monroe County jail.