Man With 7 Drunk Driving Convictions Is Suspected Of Doing It Again

A Perry man was arrested on suspicion of driving drunk after he crashed his car Thursday night in Mentor.

He was already convicted of driving drunk seven times before, most recently in 2009, Mentor Police Lt. Ken Zbiegien said.

Thomas Pepp, 48, drove off the right side of the Route 2's eastbound lanes Thursday night and crashed into a guardrail, Zbiegien said.

When officers responded to the crash, they said Pepp had glossy eyes, slurred speech and the smell of alcohol on his breath. They also found a pipe with marijuana residue on it in the center cup holder, Zbiegien said.

The officers gave Pepp field sobriety tests that he failed, Zbiegien said.

Then Pepp told the police that his back hurt so they took him to TriPoint Medical Center in Concord Township. At the hospital, Pepp refused to take any blood or breath tests for alcohol, Zbiegien said.

Pepp was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, failing to control his car and possessing drug paraphernalia.

He was arraigned Friday morning in . Judge John Trebets set his bond at $22,000, which was not posted.

Pepp's next court hearing is scheduled for Thursday.