BONNEVILLE COUNTY — A local man has been charged with DUI after allegedly “wrapping his truck around a tree,” according to court records.
Michael Joseph Swanson, 44, has been charged with one count of DUI and one count of resisting or obstructing officers.
If convicted, Swanson faces up to 11 years in prison and a $6,000 fine. Swanson’s third DUI carries a more serious charge.
Court Documents On June 30, state deputies responded to a crash near Burns Creek Road and East Heise Road. Dispatch reported that someone had “wrapped his truck around a tree.”
Deputies arrived on the scene and discovered a white pickup truck with extensive front end damage. They were able to speak with the reporting party who had called in the incident.
The reporting party claimed to see Swanson drinking “Twisted Teas” before getting into the white truck and driving away from the campground where they were staying.
According to court records, Swanson requested assistance from the reporting party in concealing himself. Swanson was allegedly sitting in a camp chair in the trees when deputies arrived. Deputies called out but received no response.
Deputies walked around the camp chair and discovered a man lying on the ground nearby. The man identified himself as “Jo.” According to court documents, his words were slurred and he smelt strongly of alcohol.
Swanson allegedly told deputies that his friend drove the truck, not him.
He refused to take a field sobriety test, so deputies transported him to Idaho Falls Community Hospital and obtained a blood draw warrant.
Swanson was arrested and booked at the Bonneville County Jail.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 15 before Magistrate Judge Wiley R. Dennert.
Swanson has been charged with these crimes, but that does not necessarily imply he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
