Police accuse California man of driving drunk on golf cart after burglary

 Posted on January 03, 2013 in Dealing with the Police

Police in Angels Camp, California say that a Citrus Heights man stole five bottles of champagne on New Year's Eve, loaded the bottles into a golf cart, and attempted to make a roughly 74 mile trek home in the stolen golf cart. Police claim that the 46-year-old California man had been staying at a resort in Angels Camp for the holiday. But authorities say that the man had an argument and decided to leave the resort.

Police claim that the Citrus Heights man spotted a golf cart in a garage roughly 20 minutes before midnight on New Year's Eve. That's when police say the man decided to drive home. Authorities accuse the man of taking the electric golf cart and the champagne and hitting the highway.

Police believe that the man took a wrong turn while searching for Highway 4 and got lost. Law enforcement arrested the man near Copperopolis on suspicion of driving under the influence. Police claim that the man drove more than 13 miles in the cart. Officials claim that the man admitted to stealing the machine.

Later Tuesday, Angels Camp police fielded a call from a resident who claimed that a golf cart, some golf clubs and five bottles of champagne were stolen from a garage late New Year's Eve. The Citrus Heights man is now facing numerous charges, including burglary, grand theft, possession of stolen property, theft of a vehicle and DUI.

Sources:

• Fox 40, "Police say intoxicated California man stole golf cart, loaded it with champagne," Dec. 2, 2012
• News 10, "Man arrested for DUI after stealing golf cart, plans to drive from Angels Camp to Citrus Heights," Maneeza Iqbal, Jan. 2, 2013