WYANDOTTE (WWJ) - Downriver police arrested one man after he allegedly drove home drunk to discover someone parked in a public space in front of his home -- and used his SUV to push it out of the way so he could take it instead.
Wyandotte police issued a reminder in a social media update about the case that parking spaces in the street to do not belong to homeowners after they responded to the incident on Dec. 28, 2022.
"Though this is the law, many people choose not to believe it," the police department added. "We have dealt with countless battles throughout the years over spaces that people think they own."
Police said officers responded to an incident involving a 59-year-old resident of Wyandotte who returned home to find another vehicle parked in a space on the street.
The homeowner usually parked in that space, which was in front of his home, cops added, and he was not about to find another one.
"Our suspect was having none of someone parking in 'his' spot so he used his Dodge Durango to push the parked car, roughly 30 feet away from 'his' spot," police said. "Our suspect then calmly parked his Durango back in 'his' spot."
Police responding to the scene noted damage to both vehicles. The man tried to justify his actions to the officers, explaining that he had been parking in that specific spot for over 40 years, the department added.
The man did not convince officers, who also noted the man appeared to be drunk. He was arrested for Malicious Destruction of Property and Operating while Intoxicated after cops said he registered a Blood Alcohol Content three and a half times over the legal limit.
"Roadside parking spaces in front of a residence are not the property of the homeowner," the Wyandotte police reiterated.