Union County Sheriff

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Manuel Luke Richardson, 35, 310 N. Walnut St., was charged with third-offense operating while under the influence 2:35 a.m. Jan. 4 at West Fremont Street and South Sumner Avenue.

According to a Union County Sheriff’s report, Richardson drove his vehicle off the roadway and hit a utility pole. Richardson admitted to drinking and said he was the only one in the vehicle when he hit the pole. Officers noted a smell of alcohol coming from his breath, slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes. There were empty vodka containers in the vehicle that Richardson said were from a previous day. He failed field sobriety testing and a data master test revealed a blood alcohol level of .246.

Richardson was released on $5,000 bond.