By Brandi Makuski

A local man is facing his first- and second- OWI offense following two separate early morning incidents about 24 hours apart.

Richard Majors, 48, was first arrested shortly before 8 AM on Jan. 7 after his vehicle was found in a snowbank by Portage Co. deputies near the Windsor Apartments on the corner of Hoover Ave. and County Hwy. HH.

Majors, who lives at the Windsor, told a deputy he had just returned from a nearby car wash and his vehicle was stuck in the snow. The deputy suspected Majors was intoxicated and administered a breathalyzer.

Majors blew an initial .315 percent alcohol content- nearly four time above the legal limit- and was transferred to Ministry St. Michael’s for a blood draw. The result of that test was not immediately available.

Majors was initially charged with operating while intoxicated, first offense, which is a municipal ordinance violation, and released to a friend.

About 24 hours later, Majors was arrested again for the same offense, this time by city police and with an initial blood alcohol content of .28 percent, according to the incident report.

According to Asst. Chief Tom Zenner, Majors was involved in a hit-and-run accident near the Clark St. and Michigan Ave. intersection on Jan. 8. The vehicle Majors hit was occupied but no injuries were reported.

“Officers ended up coming across him down by Windsor Apartments, where he was arrested for OWI,” Zenner said.

Zenner explained Majors’ second arrest was still considered a first OWI offense, as his first arrest had not yet yielded any conviction.

Majors was also cited for hit and run of an attended vehicle.

Once Majors is charged with the first arrest, the second charge would likely be amended, Zenner said. Until then, he said, both offenses are considered non-criminal.

It was not immediately clear if Majors is in custody. His court date is pending.