DUI suspect was asleep at wheel of moving car

By Joe Johnson

Zarius Jadaun Burch, 21, of Gainesville, was arrested early in the morning of December 20th after he was found passed out in his car at Thomas and Broad streets.

Police said they responded to the area at 2:13 a.m. after receiving a 911 call from a witness who reported that “a male was asleep at the wheel and the vehicle was rolling down Thomas Street.”

According to police there were passengers in the car who fled prior to the arrival of officers.

They said that Burch admitted to having a few drinks at a downtown Athens bar and that he needed to put his boots on before stepping out of his car.

After he refused to sobriety testing, Burch was taken to the hospital to have his blood drawn for chemical analysis.

He was arrested for DUI and illegally stopping a vehicle in the roadway.