HARTFORD, NEW Police discovered a 34-year-old man trailing a gas pump handle and line behind his pickup vehicle, leading to his arrest on charges of driving while intoxicated.
At before 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a New Hartford Police officer pulled over Austin Zacek of Utica on Tilden Avenue after noticing a Ford pickup heading east on Higby Road with the gas apparatus dangling from the fuel door.
The officer performed field sobriety tests because he believed Zacek was under the influence of alcohol during the traffic stop.
According to police, Zacek became physically hostile with cops while being apprehended for driving under the influence.
He was accused of hindering governmental administration, a Class A misdemeanor, and driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor under the vehicle and traffic laws.
After being taken to the Oneida County Jail, Zacek was detained pending his arraignment.
When Zacek drove away from the station, the gas pump equipment separated, and police concluded it originated from the 7-Eleven Gas and Convenience Store on Kellogg Road in Washington Mills.
There are still pending charges in connection with the event.
