BOONE COUNTY, MO. -- Update: 5:00 p.m.
A Boone County Sheriff’s Deputy arrested a Columbia man, not once, but twice for DWI in less than three hours.
Authorities said Robert Eckerle, 48, did not learn his lesson when he drove his car after being released on bond from the Boone County Jail for suspicion of drunk driving.
Boone County Deputy Mark Winchester arrested Eckerle for suspicion of driving while intoxicated just before midnight on Wednesday. Winchester pulled Eckerle over on Interstate 70 near Providence Road in Columbia. Even though Eckerle had, at least, three prior convictions for drunk driving, Deputy Winchester locked up Eckerle’s car on the shoulder of the highway instead of having it towed. Boone County deputies usually avoid towing vehicles when suspects, like Eckerle, are coopertive.
Two hours later, authorities released Eckerle on a $4,595 bond. A friend of Eckerle picked him up at the jail and brought him to his car. Deputy Winchester immediately arrested Eckerle again for a second DWI charge. This time, the arrest happened just north of the Interstate 70 Midway Exit on Highway 40 near Henderson Road. After his second arrest, authorities towed Eckerle’s car to prevent him driving under the influence.
“Based on everything that I’ve been told and read, I would say that we don’t even come close to making any kind of mistake on this," Boone County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Brian Leer said. "If anything, we went above and beyond by catching this guy twice in one night.”
Leer said the friend who drove Eckerle back to his car used bad judgment, but did not break any laws.
Authorities said Eckerle was on his way home when they arrested him a second time within three hours on Highway 40.
Original Story:
A Columbia man is facing several charges after he was arrested for DWI twice in two hours.
Boone County deputies said Robert Mitchell Eckerle, 48, was first arrested Wednesday just before midnight.
He was stopped by a Boone County Sheriff's Deputy on westbound I-70 near Providence Road for traffic violations. His blood alcohol content was reported as .257. His car was towed from the scene and he was taken to jail.
Deputies said Eckerle bonded himself out of jail and was out the door.
Roughly two hours after his that arrest, Eckerle was pulled over again for a traffic violation.
This time, police records indicate his blood alcohol content was .188.
He was arrested again for the felony offense of driving while intoxicated. Police said this arrest was near his home.
Eckerle had at least three prior convictions for either driving while intoxicated or driving with excessive blood alcohol content.
A Boone County detective could not say if Eckerle was driving the same car during both arrests. He said that information would come in a report to be filed later.
Stay tuned to KRCG News at 5 and 6 as well as right here at connectmidmissouri.com for details as this story develops.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKRCG