Belgrade man accused of 5th DUI

The officer reported that he'd been patrolling the city at 1:41 a.m. Aug. 14 when he saw a tan Toyota Tacoma leave the city parking lot near Main and Broadway streets. The Tacoma's driver was sitting in an odd position, which, in addition to the late hour and proximity to bars, led the officer to wonder whether the driver might be impaired.

Shortly after the officer began following the Tacoma, the pickup pulled into the Town Pump at 305 E. Main St. The officer stopped nearby and waited for a couple minutes before noticing the Tacoma's driver — a man with a short beard — staggering in Lewis and Clark Park away from the gas station, according to the affidavit.

The park is closed to the public at 10 p.m., so the officer used this as probable cause to detain the man. The officer wasn't able to immediately effect the detention, as the man, upon seeing the officer, turned around and went back to the gas station, according to the affidavit.

"It seemed to me that the male was trying hard to avoid me," reads the officer's affidavit.

The officer reported that he met the man back at the gas station, positively identified him as Fletcher, and asked him where his vehicle was.

"He refused to answer that question and just kept stating that he was walking," reads the affidavit.

The officer reportedly determined that Fletcher was the registered owner of the Tacoma.

"As I spoke with Fletcher, I observed the extremely strong odor of alcoholic beverage, his face was flushed, and his eyes were bloodshot and watery," reads the affidavit. "He also had slurred speech. Based on the above I began a DUI Investigation."

Fletcher refused to provide a breath sample and to take a sobriety test, whereupon he was arrested, according to the affidavit.

Fletcher was convicted of DUI in 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2024, the officer reported. These convictions enhance Fletcher's potential charge from a misdemeanor to a felony under state law.