01-29-2007, 05:56 PM
I think we all love a dumb criminal story, so I thought I would share this from my local newspaper.
Man gives finger to sheriff, crashes car
Matthew Thompson
Daily Mail staff
Friday January 26, 2007
Police said they arrested a South Charleston man for driving under the influence after he flipped his middle finger at Kanawha County Sheriff Mike Rutherford and then crashed his car.
Glenn Harold Vickers, 53, was arrested Thursday night near the Microtel Inn off the Montrose Drive exit in South Charleston.
The incident occurred while Rutherford was driving home from a County Commission meeting.
Rutherford left the meeting at the Virginia Street courthouse around 7:45 p.m., he said. He then got on the Oakwood Road ramp and began heading west on Interstate 64.
Rutherford said that while he was trying to merge with traffic, he noticed Vickers' 1997 Mercury station wagon weaving over into his lane.
Rutherford said he merged and then he headed down the straight stretch of the interstate. Vickers' car fell behind Rutherford's unmarked black Jeep Laredo.
Vickers then allegedly began to tailgate Rutherford's Jeep, Rutherford said.
"I thought he was going to ram me," the sheriff said this morning. "He'd come right on my bumper, then he would just back off."
Rutherford said that after Vickers crowded his Jeep's bumper three times, he radioed police headquarters to see if there were any other officers in the area.
By this point, Rutherford's car and Vickers' car were approaching the Montrose Avenue interchange.
Rutherford said Vickers took the exit and as he did, he extended his middle finger toward the sheriff.
Vickers then crashed the right side of his station wagon along the exit's guardrail, Rutherford said.
"He was looking directly at me, giving me the finger and just ran into the guardrail," Rutherford said. "There's no question in my mind he was not paying attention."
After crashing, Vickers continued to travel down Montrose Avenue, Rutherford said. Sheriff's deputies arrived after Vickers parked his car at the Microtel Inn on Second Avenue.
Rutherford said Vickers failed a field sobriety test and declined to take a Breathalyzer test. He was then taken into police custody.
Rutherford said he's not sure why Vickers made the obscene gesture. The sheriff said he had never met Vickers before.
"When he was stopped and I introduced myself, you could tell he was surprised," Rutherford said. "It was like all the air was taken out of him."
Police said Vickers was released on bond. A court date has not been set.
Man gives finger to sheriff, crashes car
Matthew Thompson
Daily Mail staff
Friday January 26, 2007
Police said they arrested a South Charleston man for driving under the influence after he flipped his middle finger at Kanawha County Sheriff Mike Rutherford and then crashed his car.
Glenn Harold Vickers, 53, was arrested Thursday night near the Microtel Inn off the Montrose Drive exit in South Charleston.
The incident occurred while Rutherford was driving home from a County Commission meeting.
Rutherford left the meeting at the Virginia Street courthouse around 7:45 p.m., he said. He then got on the Oakwood Road ramp and began heading west on Interstate 64.
Rutherford said that while he was trying to merge with traffic, he noticed Vickers' 1997 Mercury station wagon weaving over into his lane.
Rutherford said he merged and then he headed down the straight stretch of the interstate. Vickers' car fell behind Rutherford's unmarked black Jeep Laredo.
Vickers then allegedly began to tailgate Rutherford's Jeep, Rutherford said.
"I thought he was going to ram me," the sheriff said this morning. "He'd come right on my bumper, then he would just back off."
Rutherford said that after Vickers crowded his Jeep's bumper three times, he radioed police headquarters to see if there were any other officers in the area.
By this point, Rutherford's car and Vickers' car were approaching the Montrose Avenue interchange.
Rutherford said Vickers took the exit and as he did, he extended his middle finger toward the sheriff.
Vickers then crashed the right side of his station wagon along the exit's guardrail, Rutherford said.
"He was looking directly at me, giving me the finger and just ran into the guardrail," Rutherford said. "There's no question in my mind he was not paying attention."
After crashing, Vickers continued to travel down Montrose Avenue, Rutherford said. Sheriff's deputies arrived after Vickers parked his car at the Microtel Inn on Second Avenue.
Rutherford said Vickers failed a field sobriety test and declined to take a Breathalyzer test. He was then taken into police custody.
Rutherford said he's not sure why Vickers made the obscene gesture. The sheriff said he had never met Vickers before.
"When he was stopped and I introduced myself, you could tell he was surprised," Rutherford said. "It was like all the air was taken out of him."
Police said Vickers was released on bond. A court date has not been set.
