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Officers first noticed Charles Hines, 29, of Valley Avenue, speeding in the area of Sky Hookah Lounge on Kings Highway East, police said.
When he drove through a red light at the traffic circle intersection with Black Rock Turnpike around 4:15 a.m., officers put on their lights and caught up to the car, police said. The car stopped, but then sped up again when the officer approached on foot, police said.
Hines was eventually stopped at Johnson and Chambers streets and refused to get out of the car, reaching for a backpack on the passenger seat and wrapping his feet around the steering column, police said.
Police said Hines’ breath smelled of alcohol and his speech was slurred. He failed three field sobriety tests, police said.
Officers found .52 grams of suspected marijuana in the backpack, police said.
HInes was charged with driving under the influence, engaging in pursuit, interfering with an officer and failure to obey a traffic signal, police said. He was given a ticket for possession of marijuana.
He was released on $100 for the motor vehicle charges and a promise to appear in court on April 3, police said.
Officers have stepped up patrols near the hookah lounge in recent months, as it is an area known for narcotics violations and criminal activity overnight, police said.
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