WVUE-TV Channel 8 News




Lafourche - Police in Lafourche Parish have arrested a man they say was driving a lawnmower while drunk.

Police say last Friday, a deputy responded to Highway 1 south of Lockport after receiving calls about a man on a riding lawnmower including one report that the man had cut down shrubs in someone's yard.

Upon arrival, the deputy observed the man, 22 year-old Bobby Punch, driving the lawnmower in the northbound lane of traffic on LA-1 with a long line of vehicles behind him.

Police also observed Punch cross the center line and travel in the southbound lane of traffic before moving back into the northbound lane. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and noted a very strong odor of alcohol coming from Punch's breath. Punch's speech was slurred and had trouble keeping his balance.

Due to the heavy traffic and his apparent level of impairment, Punch was arrested and transported to the Criminal Operations Center in Lockport to perform a sobriety test. Punch performed poorly and eventually indicated he could not continue. He submitted to a breathalyzer test, and the results indicated Punch had a blood alcohol concentration of .312g%.

He was booked with D.W.I. - 2nd Offense, Simple Criminal Damage to Property, Improper Equipment and Not Driving on the Right Side of the Road.