Two nabbed after crashing bonfire party

Two suspects were arrested on multiple charges after crashing a bonfire party off Prater Road, slamming through a fence and vandalizing someone else's vehicle.

Taken into custody were Jeffrey D. Nichols and Joseph Barrett reported Deputy Randy Wilde. Nichols was charged with vandalism over $1,000 for damage to the fence, vandalism $5,000 to $10,000 for damages to a Volvo car, leaving the scene of an accident and DUI second offense.

Barrett, age 20, was charged with under-aged consumption of alcohol and possession of Schedule II narcotics (morphine).

Deputies were dispatched at about 10:15 p.m. Saturday night (Dec. 13) to investigate a report of a drunk driver in the area of Eugene Reed and Iconium Roads. A few minutes later, the officers were dispatched to an address on Iconium Road for a possible wreck with injuries.

"The complainant could hear someone yelling for help and saying that they were trying to kill him," Wildes reported.
When Wildes arrived he discovered a freshly wrecked vehicle, but no motorist. Area residents told the deputy that the motorist ran off when he saw the deputy arriving.

"I began to look for the subject and eventually found him hiding in a wood pile next to the complainant's barn. He was complaining of back and leg pain and was extremely intoxicated," Wildes reported.

Wildes left the suspect, later identified as Jeffrey D. Nichols and talked with a female resident of the area, who told him her sister was holding a bonfire on Prater Road when Nichols and Barrett arrived uninvited with two females.

Nichols and Barrett appeared extremely intoxicated and were asked to leave. On the way out, Nichols became irate and tried to fight with other party goers. Just before he left, Nichols reportedly jumped on the hood of a 2001 Volvo S40 and started jumping up and down smashing the hood. He then kicked in the windshield before kicking and damaging one of the rear quarter-panels.

An altercation occurred and Nichols jumped into a car and crashed it through a wooden horse fence twice before leaving the scene.

Deputy Wildes also identified the second subject (Barrett) and determined he was extremely intoxicated as well.

State Trooper Jason McGee, who also responded to the crash, charged Nichols with DUI, second offense, and leaving the scene of an accident.