Harrington Man Arrested For A 4th DUI After Sideswiping A Police Car

Location: Railroad Avenue north of the Commerce Street intersection, Harrington, DE

Date of Occurrence: Sunday February 23, 2014 at approximately 1:35 a.m.

Defendant, Charges, and Bond Information:

Thomas J. Lepera, 47, Harrington, DE (Photo Attached)
4th Offense Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Careless Driving

Arraigned at JP7 and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $4,025.00 secured bond.

Resume:
Harrington, DE- The Delaware State Police have arrested a Harrington man for DUI after he crashed into the side of a Harrington Police Department vehicle.

The incident occurred around 1:35 a.m. Sunday morning as an officer from Harrington Police Department was parked on the southbound side of Railroad Avenue just north of the Commerce Street intersection. Thomas J. Lepera was operating a 2005 Hyundai Sante Fe southbound on Railroad Avenue and as he was passing the fully marked patrol car, the right side of the Sante Fe sideswiped the 2009 Ford Crown Victoria on the left side. The Hyundai continued southbound before turning onto Commerce Street where it came to a stop after the officer activated his emergency equipment to have the vehicle pull over.

Troopers were contacted at the request of Harrington PD to investigate the crash and upon making contact with Thomas Lepera, who was the lone occupant and driver of the vehicle, an odor of alcohol was detected and a DUI investigation ensued. Lepera was subsequently taken into custody and transported back to Troop 3 where an inquiry into his driving record revealed three previous DUI convictions (01/10/01/, 03/09/04, and 08/01/06); this arrest would make #4.

Thomas Lepera was charged with the above listed offenses and arraigned a JP7. He was incarcerated at JTVCC on default of $4,025.00 secured bond.