Just before 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Missoula police responded to the 1700 block of Peggio Lane for the report of a vehicle that had crashed into a building. Officers arrived and found a vehicle embedded in the garage of a home. Detective Sergeant Jim Klawitter explains.

“Officers responded to a vehicle crash where a vehicle had crashed into an apartment building,” Klawitter said. “It turns out no one was injured in the crash, but they made contact with the driver. He was identified as 57-year-old Phillip Wallace. After their investigation, officer arrested Wallace for DUI.”

Reportedly, this was Mr. Wallace’s eighth or subsequent DUI arrest.

“He has previous convictions in the state of Montana and out of state,” Klawitter said. “It was his fourth or subsequent offense so he was charged with a felony. He was also charged with careless driving and failure to notify after a traffic crash.”

According to court documents, the officer noticed that the windshield had a spiderweb like crack indicating the driver had impacted their head heavily on the windshield.  Witnesses said they saw Wallace leaving the vehicle on foot after the crash and walking into his apartment. The officer entered the apartment and immediately smelled a strong odor of alcohol.  Wallace was located unconscious on the bed in the bedroom.  Wallace woke up and he had a laceration above his left eye that was still bleeding. Medical arrived and treated Wallace for his injuries before he was taken to jail.

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