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Crime & Safety

Drunken Driver Waved When Cop Tried to Pull Him Over, Police Say

Charles Zebley didn't stop his car when officer activated lights and sirens; he just waved and kept on driving for another 1.6 miles, according to court papers.

A Freemansburg police officer had reason to believe the driver of a green Chrysler convertible was drunk when the car crossed double-yellow center lines and drove up a steep grassy embankment next to a parking lot.

Also, the officer later found out the driver had a crushed can of Bud Light in his right shirt pocket, court records say.

But instead of pulling over after the officer activated his patrol car’s emergency lights, siren and even air horn, all the driver did was wave at the officer, the records say.

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The accused, Charles J. Zebley IV, 51, of Monroe County, waved when borough Patrolman Jonathan Itterly activated his car’s emergency lights near Pembroke Road.

But neither lights nor siren could stop Zebley, who kept waving.

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Zebley, whose driver’s license was suspended due to previous DUI-related offenses, finally stopped once solidly inside Bethlehem—and after Itterly flashed his high beams and sounded the car’s air horn while in pursuit.

In all, Itterly estimates, Zebley traveled about 1.6 miles after the officer first tried to pull him over early Saturday. Zebley, who was charged with DUI, tested positive for alcohol in a portable breath test.

Apparently because of the previous DUI offenses, his driver’s license expired in August 2007, the records say.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Itterly, the incident began around 1 a.m. Saturday when the officer noticed the 1997 Chrysler was flashing its right turn signal while on Pembroke Road. At that point, however, there was no street to turn right onto.

The complaint also says:

  • Zebley deactivated the turn signal, but the car was now over the double center lines. It passed Itterly’s car—parked at Pembroke and Garfield on the city-borough line. Itterly followed.
  • Zebley turned right onto Clearfield Street, then left into a parking lot without using a turn signal. Approaching the lot’s rear, Zebley drove up a “steep grass incline” and over a curb before getting back onto Clearfield toward Pembroke.
  • Itterly activated his emergency lights. Zebley stopped at a red light. When the light turned green, the car turned back onto Pembroke—and Itterly saw Zebley waving at him.
  • Zebley kept waving when Itterly activated his siren. But he eventually stopped and was taken into custody.
  • Itterly said Zebley smelled of alcohol and had an “aggressive attitude.” He was unsteady on his feet and had glassy and bloodshot eyes. The suspect performed a standard field sobriety test, which came back with “multiple clues” that he may be drunk.

Zebley, whose residence at 4802 Queens Way in Polk Township carries a Kunkletown mailing address, was charged with blood-alcohol content .02 percent or greater—second offense, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, driving under the influence—alcohol, .16 percent or higher, and careless driving.

He was arraigned at 5:15 a.m. Saturday by on-duty District Judge Todd Strohe of Bangor and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $7,500 bail.

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