MONTGOMERY - A lost cellphone helped police take another allegedly intoxicated driver off the road - twice in the same night.
Chad E. Gittle, 26, of 47 S. Main St., faces two counts of DUI after police allegedly caught him returning to the scene of his first DUI charge and driving back to his residence, although he had been warned not to drive.
The incident began when Bridgette Gittle informed police that her husband had started kicking in the front door of their apartment. According to court records, Sgt. Larry Wilcox already had responded to a domestic disturbance at the same home earlier that day.
Wilcox returned to the residence at about 2:10 a.m. July 22, but found that Chad Gittle had allegedly left the scene in his black Chevrolet. Bridgette Gittle informed police that her husband was "highly intoxicated," according to court records.
Another officer came across Chad Gittle's vehicle while on his way to provide backup for Wilcox. Police stopped the vehicle, administered a breath test and took him to Muncy Valley Hospital for a blood test. His blood alcohol content was 0.151 percent, police said.
After testing, he was released into the care of his father-in-law, who was not named in court records.
Officers then discovered that Chad Gittle accidentally had been given the Muncy borough cellphone upon his release. Officers drove to the home of Chad Gittle's father-in-law, who told police his son-in-law had driven the vehicle away, even though he had been warned by police not to drive.
Meanwhile, Chad Gittle allegedly returned to his home and was kicking in the door of his apartment again. When police returned to the Gittle residence, the man had left, according to court records.
Officers decided to wait. A short time later, Chad Gittle allegedly drove to the home and parked on the street. He subsequently was arrested and arraigned that evening.
He faces a preliminary hearing before District Judge Jon Kemp at 2 p.m. July 27.
