Depressed super drunk driver drank 20 beers, hit 8 vehicles, then defecated on roof of car

A 26-year-old Kalamazoo man was arrested on Tuesday after drinking 20 beers, hitting 8 cars and and defecating on one of the vehicles inside the downtown parking ramp for the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites.

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Assistant Chief Brian Uridge said the man told officers he was feeling depressed, went to the top of the Radisson ramp at 100 N. Rose St. and drank 20 beers to "get enough courage to commit suicide," Uridge said. Lance Laponsie, 26, then proceeded to drive out of the ramp and struck eight vehicles, causing $75,000 worth of damage.



He then got on top of a car and defecated on it, Uridge said. Uridge said Laponsie was arrested at about 3 p.m. on suspicion of drunken driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.17 or higher, which under state law is called "super drunk."

Laponsie was arraigned on Wednesday on charges of first-offence operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with a high blood alcohol content (0.17 or higher) under Michigan's "super drunk" law. Laponsie is scheduled to be back in district court March 1 for a status review hearing.