Crime & Safety

Drunken Man Nearly 'Fell Into Traffic,' Police Say

Gil Gillespie, 54, of Nazareth was taken into custody after allegedly staggering and stumbling his way down the borough's Main Street.

A Nazareth man with a history of driving under the influence and being drunk in public was taken into custody Thursday afternoon after police allege he almost fell into Main Street traffic. 

Gil Gillespie, 54, a Spruce Street resident, was allegedly seen staggering near Belvidere and Main streets, police say.

In his accident report, Officer Daniel Troxell said he watched Gillespie step off a curb and almost fall into the path of oncoming vehicles. Troxell notes that Gillespie continued to stagger down S. Main Street and was incapable of walking safely.

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According to police, Gillespie was slurring his speech and was not cooperative when Troxell asked him questions. He did admit that he was headed for the American Legion.

Officer Ben Rizzotto asked Gillespie to participate in a field sobriety test, according to the incident report. Gillespie refused and said, “Awwwww da hahaha f****ing police.”

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Gillespie was taken into custody and transported to the Nazareth Borough Police Department, where he stayed until his wife would pick him up, according to police. 

Nazareth police will charge Gillespie with public drunkenness, a charge he pleaded guilty to in July 2009, court records say. The arresting officer was Troxell.

Gillespie pleaded guilty in 2001 to two counts of driving under the influence and one count of immediate notice of accident to police, court records say. And in 2010, he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence – highest rate of alcohol (BAC .16+).


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