Suspect charged for hitting vehicles, house with car

Published 10:20 am Friday, August 7, 2015

An Austin man who allegedly went on a drunken demolition derby spree of damage earlier this week was charged Thursday in Mower County District Court.

Eric Hayes, 35, faces two counts of first-degree criminal damage to property and one count of second-degree DWI after he allegedly repeatedly smashed a car into several vehicles and a house.

According to a court complaint, Hayes brought a 1997 Buick Park Avenue back to its owners at the 1000 block of Sixth Avenue Northeast at about 1:36 a.m. on Aug. 5.

Hayes

Hayes

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The victims told police Hayes had been drinking and borrowed the car to drive to Fairmont, where they thought he would buy methamphetamine. The victims had called Hayes to tell him they would report the car stolen if he didn’t return it.

That’s when Hayes allegedly “went nuts,” according to the victims. Hayes allegedly grew angry over the car and repeatedly smashed it into nearby cars and part of the house itself, according to the court complaint.

When police arrived, Hayes allegedly started to shout, take off his shirt and run toward officers. Hayes refused to listen to police commands, according to the court complaint, and was eventually shocked with a stun gun before he was arrested.

Two of the three vehicles Hayes hit were totaled and he also hit the gas main on the side of the victims’ house. Austin firefighters and Austin Utilities workers were called to the scene to replace the gas main and keep the area safe.

Hayes will make his first appearance in court Friday.