Manley faces 7th DUI charge

A Harlem man is in the Hill County jail on $25,000 bond facing his first court appearance on his seventh charge of driving drunk.

Garland A. Manley, born in 1964, is scheduled to appear in state District Court in Havre Wednesday to answer the charges, which also include misdemeanor counts of driving while his license was revoked or suspended, failure to carry proof of insurance and carrying a concealed weapon while under the influence.

According to a court document, Manley was convicted of DUI in 1987 in Hardin, in Rosebud County in 1991, in Big Horn County in 1992, in Billings in 2004, in Blaine County in 2009 and in 2010 in Musselshell County.

The document says a Havre police officer noticed Manley at 1:58 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, waiting in his vehicle an extended period of time at the intersection of 2nd Street and 2nd Avenue. He then drove forward and came to an almost-complete stop at the uncontrolled intersection of 4th Avenue and 2nd Street with no oncoming traffic, the document says.

When Manley started driving his white Pontiac Grand Prix forward, he drifted into the oncoming lane and was forced to jerk back to avoid hitting a truck, then drifted again into the oncoming lane and then braked violently, nearly sliding into the intersection of 6th Avenue and 2nd Street.

The officer then activated his flashing lights and pulled Manley over, the document says.

Manley failed field sobriety tests and the officer found prescription pain and anxiety medication he appeared to be taking, which are not to be taken with alcohol. The officer also found a set of brass knuckles in Manley’s pocket, the document says.