MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (ADAMS) – Indiana State police say that a man is behind bars facing charges of driving drunk after he crashed through the main gate of the State Prison in Michigan City, Indiana.
Officers were initially notified of a possible impaired driver on US 421 and moments later got word that a vehicle, matching the description of the one they were looking for, had crashed at the prison.
Indiana State Police released the following:
On Wednesday evening at approximately 6:00 p.m., the LaPorte County Dispatch Center received a call of a possible impaired driver on U.S. 421 in the Michigan City area. Attempts to locate the vehicle, a silver Chevrolet Silverado, were initially unsuccessful. Minutes later, the dispatch center received calls of a vehicle matching the Silverado’s description, had driven through the main gate of the Indiana State Prison.
The vehicle was eventually stopped, and the Indiana State Police were requested to the scene to investigate the incident. During the crash investigation, Trooper King determined that the subject had consumed alcoholic beverages and field sobriety tests were conducted. Later, a certified chemical test for intoxication was administered, with the driver registering .14% BAC (Blood Alcohol Content). The driver, identified as Robert D. Merriman, 62, from Winamac, IN, was incarcerated at the LaPorte County Jail. He is preliminarily *charged with the following:
Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (Endangering)- Class A Misdemeanor
Operating While Intoxicated- Class C Misdemeanor
Criminal Trespass- Class A Misdemeanor
Assisting at the scene was the Michigan City Police Department, Indiana State Prison and Ace Auto.*Indiana State Police remind that all charges are merely allegations, and all criminal defendants should be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
