DOVER — A 67-year-old Harrington man arrested on a seventh offense drunken driving charge on July 2 allegedly told police he had earlier consumed a pint of vodka and was talking to a friend on his cellphone while driving home, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Edward S. Palmer, of the 100 block of Jennese Lane, was initially seen driving a vehicle that made an abrupt right turn across U.S. 13 in the Walnut Shade Road area, an investigating Delaware State Police trooper claimed, and then traveled north on the roadway’s shoulder.
Edward S.
Palmer
The case involved Kent County’s fifth felony arrest on DUI charges in six days, also including:
• On July 2, Chad T. Wingo, 30, of the first block of Nugent Loop in Smyrna, was arrested on a fourth DUI of alcohol charge, and misdemeanor driver’s license suspended/revoked and speeding greater than 55 mph violation.
• On July 4, Naquan D. Bumbrey, 37, of the first block of Stevenson Drive in Dover, was charged with a fourth offense DUI felony and misdemeanor driver’s license suspended/revoked and insurance card charges. A possession of registration card violation charge was also issued.
• On July 4, Ryan Hall, 32, of the first block of Heritage Drive in Dover, was charged with third offense felony DUI of liquor/drugs, and misdemeanor possession of controlled substance with aggravating factor and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• On Thursday, Johnny R. Jones, 48, of the first block of Beagle Club Road in Felton, was charged with a fifth offense DUI and misdemeanor driver’s license suspended/revoked, insurance card and resisting arrest, and driver and passenger seatbelt violation.
An arrest detailed
A traffic stop was made after Mr. Palmer’s vehicle allegedly failed to come to a complete stop while making a right turn, police said.
“Upon contact [with Edward Palmer, name redacted] smelled a strong odor of alcohol as well as the driver to be acting oddly and slurring speech,” police wrote in the affidavit.
“I also observed him to be holding his cellphone in his hand and actively talking on the cellphone.”
Police said Mr. Palmer could not provide an insurance card or driver’s license after several moments of searching, and was found to have a revoked license due to previous DUI arrests.
During a field sobriety test, according to police, Mr. Palmer “provided six of the six clues indicating a person under the influence of alcohol.”
Police said Mr. Palmer was unable to count past the number 14 and said he could no longer keep his balance.
“[Mr. Palmer} then advised he was having trouble after completing the tests and that he would not be able to finish them,” the affidavit read.
After Mr. Palmer consented to a breath test, police said, he was allegedly found to have a .146-percent blood-alcohol content. He registered the same percentage during a later intoxilyzer test at Troop 3, police said.
Charges included seventh offense DUI, cellphone use, no valid license, no insurance card, failure to come to a complete stop and failure to drive in proper lane.
Mr. Palmer was given a $10,500 cash-only bond for the DUI and no valid license counts.