We all know that getting stupid drunk can lead you to making some terrible decisions, but the badness gets amplified if you operate heavy machinery for a living.
Street sweeper operator Jerry Mitchell was apparently both extremely drunk and hungry for candy. According to the NY Post, NY State Police report that he was busy cleaning the lot at the Gateway Center Mall while already around twice the legal limit for intoxication. That’s when he decided it would be a good idea to drive his street sweeper around the corner to get some candy.
Then Mitchell claims he got “lost” and somehow ended up about 40 miles away by the time police pulled him over.
A police source told the Post:
[pullquote]“One of our guys cut him off [and] intercepted him. But he refused to pull over for almost 2 miles. I guess you could say it was a slow-speed chase. He was going about 35 miles per hour.”[/pullquote]
Once the cops pulled him over, Mitchell was charged with aggravated DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree.
If that’s not enough street sweeper shenanigans to ring in the New Year, employees at Gateway Center Mall told the Post that they spotted Mitchell doing doughnuts in his street sweeper before the chase ever happened.
One employee told the Post,
Mitchell is a father of four and lives with his mother in Brooklyn. Speaking to the Post, his mom was sure there was some reason for what he did:
Obviously, it could have been worse if someone had been injured. But since no one was, we’re not sure if this tops getting an OUI while operating a zamboni.
[via the New York Post]