By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office says a man ran off after deputies stopped him for suspicion of driving while impaired ó on a riding lawnmower.
According to a Sheriff’s Office report, Deputy Michael Hoffman stopped Dennis Ray Julian, 54, who was weaving as he drove a lawnmower down Unity Church Road. The deputy reported Julian appeared to be impaired.
Julian was driving the lawnmower on the wrong side of Unity Church Road, according to the report. He was also trespassing on someone else’s property.
The deputy stopped Julian, spoke with him briefly and began to perform field sobriety tests. Julian asked if he could pull his lawnmower over the side of the road and the deputy said he could.
Then Julian took off and ran into nearby woods, the report said.
Authorities caught and arrested Julian some time later.
He was charged with misdemeanor resisting, obstructing or delaying an officer.
Authorities had the lawnmower towed.