SEBASTIAN — A 26-year-old intoxicated man suspected of trying to run down an officer while driving recklessly told the official that he was in a fight with his girlfriend and “needed to blow off steam,” authorities said.
The man told police he drank 10 beers that night, five of which were found on the passenger’s side floorboard of his vehicle, an arrest report shows.
Donald John Dedominics, of the 700 block of Wimbrow Drive, Sebastian, was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, driving under the influence with property damage and resisting arrest without violence. He was released Monday from the Indian River County Jail on $28,500 bond.
An officer responded to a report of a reckless driver about 10 p.m. Sunday near Perch Lane and Autumn Terrace. The driver had earlier struck a basketball goal worth $300 and left the scene, an arrest report shows.
Upon arrival, the officer saw the goal laying in the roadway, police said. The officer also saw tire marks in the grass at a nearby home.
While speaking with the homeowner, the policeman heard a vehicle speeding off in the distance. The officer went to the intersection of Autumn Terrace and Perch Lane and saw a white Chevrolet pickup traveling in his direction. The vehicle’s front bumper was damaged, police said.
The driver, later identified as Dedominics, stopped after the officer shined his flashlight several times at the vehicle. The vehicle was about 15 yards away from the policeman.
After the officer identified himself as police and began to approach the pickup, Dedominics hit the accelerator. The vehicle swerved toward the officer’s direction, causing the policeman to jump out of the roadway, police said.
As the vehicle passed, Dedominics yelled, “(expletive) pig, I’m not going to (expletive) jail,” an arrest report shows. The officer radioed for back up and police conducted a traffic stop on Dedominics’ pickup.
Dedominics was handcuffed after resisting arrest. Officers found black transfer paint marks from the basketball goal on the pickup.
Dedominics was arrested and taken to the county jail for booking.