Man found passed out in parking lot charged with DUI

A call about a passed out driver in a Waffle House parking lot ended with a DUI charge for a Paducah man on Saturday.

Calvert City Police said an officer received a phone call from Waffle House about a man passed out in his vehicle in their parking lot. The caller advised that the vehicle has been there for 30 minutes to an hour. 

The officer responded and located the vehicle and said he could hear and smell the exhaust from the vehicle and noticed the headlights and taillights were on. The officer said he could see the operator of the vehicle slumped over and appeared to be asleep or passed out. The officer said he then noticed an open Michelob Ultra beer bottle in the cup holder next to the operator.

The operator woke up and got out of the vehicle to speak with the officer.  During the investigation more beer and prescription medication was found. Police then charged 28-year-old Austin Blake Gipson with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle.