On May 26, deputies responded to a motor vehicle property damage collision on Marshall Road in California.
Witnesses reported a silver Chrysler PT Cruiser operated by a white male, with brown hair and yellow shirt, drove at a high rate of speed and failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle left the roadway and drove on to private property, across a flower bed and struck a tree stump. The driver fled/drove from the scene of the collision in the PT Cruiser.
A broadcast was dispatched for the striking vehicle and driver. The vehicle and operator, Christopher Dale Knott, 36 of Callaway, were located on St. Andrew’s Church Road in California, with a flat tire, a short distance from the collision.
Deputy Ellis contacted Knott. As Deputy Ellis was speaking with Knott he noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage upon Knott’s breath and person. Knott was given a standardized field sobriety test. As a result of the test, Knott was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. As Knott was being transported to the detention center he struck rear passenger window of Deputy Ellis’ police cruiser several times and broke it. Once inside the detention center, during the booking procedures, Knott kicked a correctional officer.
Knott was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, destruction of property and second-degree assault.