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LIBERTY -- Board of Education Vice President Christopher Brookbank pleaded not guilty to an OVI charge during a Tuesday arraignment.
Brookbank, 49, appeared in Girard Municipal Court where he was arraigned on charges of operating a vehicle under the influence, failing to maintain control of his vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident.
His bail was set at $5,000 as he awaits his next court appearance.
Police responded to a call for service at Logan Way and Churchill Hubbard Road at 2:30 a.m. Sunday.
Officers observed a utility pole severed in two and found a vehicle emblem from a Buick Enclave and other car parts at the crash site, a police report states.
A dispatch call came in shortly after informing police that a white-colored vehicle, with "severe" front bumper damage, was stopped in the road near Logan Way and Colonial Drive, according to the report.
The police report states officers found the vehicle empty with its airbags fully deployed, as well as observing the bumper damage reported by dispatchers. They found the vehicle registered to Brookbank.
The report states police found Brookbank stumbling on the road near the crash site and placed him in handcuffs.
Police said Brookbank had a "strong odor" of alcohol, and had "heavily" slurred speech but refused to answer officers' questions.
After being taken to the Liberty Police Department, Brookbank refused to take a field sobriety test or a breathalyzer test.
The report states that Brookbank, who said he had driven home from Shaker's Bar and Grill in Liberty, told police he did not believe he had struck the pole, but did observe the damage to his vehicle.
Brookbank did admit later to officers that he was drunk, police said.