Alleged impaired driver strikes house

NORWALK — A Norwalk man is facing several charges after allegedly crashing his car into a home while driving impaired. Alvaro Lopez Espinoza, 32, of the 500 block of Milan Ave. (U.S. 250), is facing charges of fourth-degree felony harassment by bodily fluids; fifth-degree felony obstructing official business; and four misdemeanors: operating a vehicle under the influence, OVI refusal, open container of alcohol and reckless operation. At about 7 p.m. on May 4, officers were alerted that there was an erratic driver in Midtown Manor, 520 Milan Ave. (U.S. 250), according to a Norwalk police report. An officer began driving northbound on U.S. 250 toward the park when he observed a vehicle near the VFW that he believed was the one in question. As the officer turned his cruiser around to follow the suspect car, it veered to the left and struck a home in the 100 block of Milan Ave., the report states. The driver, Lopez Espinoza, reportedly exited the car and started walking away from the scene. The officer in pursuit was able to detain him and noticed a strong odor of alcoholic beverages coming from his breath, according to the report. After having EMS check Lopez Espinoza out, officers arrested him for OVI and took him to the police station. Once there, Lopez Espinoza provided one breath sample but refused to provide a second sample. While waiting for someone to come to the station to take responsibility for him, he reportedly began acting erratically and was going through mood swings. He kept kicking chairs around, spitting and lying on the floor all while yelling. When a sober party showed up, they told officers they no longer wished to take responsibility for Lopez Espinoza. At that point, it was determined that Lopez Espinoza would be taken to Huron County Jail. Officers had a hard time trying to load Lopez Espinoza into a cruiser. At one point, he injured himself while struggling with officers and reportedly spat blood on one officer's boot. Officers got Lopez Espinoza into a cruiser and transported him to jail. Corrections officers refused to accept him pending medical clearance, so officers took him to the hospital. After he was medically cleared, he was taken back to the jail and left in the care of guards. As of late Friday, Lopez Espinoza is incarcerated in Huron County Jail under a $25,000 bond. His next court date is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. on May 11, according to jail records.