Man charged with DUI after being found asleep at the wheel

A 20-year-old Gaffney man was arrested for drunk driving early Friday morning after he was awakened from an alleged slumber behind the wheel and struck a police cruiser.

According to Gaffney police, the incident began shortly after 2 a.m. Friday when two officers approached a vehicle that was stopped at a light at Logan Street and Floyd Baker Boulevard.

Police said they found Gustabo Florez, of Keeney Drive, asleep behind the wheel and his car's gearshift still in drive.

The officers reported they tried to wake Florez by tapping on the window. When he woke up, he allegedly took his foot off the brake and drove into a police cruiser, causing minor damage.

Upon questioning Florez, police said they smelled alcohol and requested field sobriety tests. Police claim Florez failed both field tests and a subsequent breath test.

Restroom assault

A Georgia man told police he was assaulted in a Blacksburg gas station restroom last Friday.

The 47-year-old man said he was washing his hands in the Wilco Travel Plaza when an unknown man hit him several times in the head with a closed fist. The police listed no motives for the alleged assault.

Tax fraud alleged

Gaffney police are investigating allegations two people talked a mentally challenged woman into giving them her child's Social Security card so they could claim the child as a dependent on their taxes.

In a report filed with police, the 21-year-old mother who handed over the card was under the belief the two people would file her tax return for her.

Motorcycle stolen

A Suzuki motorcycle valued at about $12,000 was reported stolen from an Overbrook Drive apartment Wednesday morning, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.

The theft occurred sometime between 3 a.m. and 11 a.m.

The blue, gray and black motorcycle was described as a 2007 Suzuki GSXR-750. It had a custom exhaust and was lowered. The owner also told police it had a "Vortex" sticker on the chain guard.

Burglary reported

A Pacolet Highway home was broken into sometime between Jan. 28 and Feb. 9 and a thief or thieves carried away an estimated $930 in equipment, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.

Entry to the home was made by breaking the front door, police reported. Among the items taken are a chain saw, a television and a refrigerator.

Car damaged

A vehicle parked outside a Windslow Avenue hotel sustained an estimated $600 in damage last week when someone damaged a door.

Police said the vehicle, owned by a Millsboro, Ky., man, was damaged some time between Feb. 12 and Feb. 13. No entry to the vehicle was made, police reported.

Drug charges

A 31-year-old Gaffney man was arrested on a drug trafficking charge Wednesday after police found almost two ounces of alleged crack cocaine in his possession.

Timothy Lamont Dawkins, of Filterplant Road, was arrested in a West Floyd Baker Boulevard parking lot at about 3 :30 p.m. Wednesday.

Police said in a report they found two clear glassine bags containing a white rocklike material in Dawkins' possession.

Gun stolen

A burglar gained entry to a Gaffney home on Tuesday and stole a .22 caliber rifle, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.

Forced entry was made into the Mullinax Lane home when someone kicked open a rear door. The homeowner initially told police that nothing appeared missing, although the home had been rummaged through. It was later determined a Marlin rifle of unknown serial number had been stolen.

Home ransacked Someone broke into a Gaffney home Wednesday morning and rummaged through each room, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.

The break-in on Euphra Drive was discovered early Wednesday afternoon when the homeowner found an open front door. Clothes and personal possessions had been scattered and rummaged through. The homeowner could not tell police if anything was missing at the time of the report, police said.

Charges filed

A 25-year-old Gaffney man was charged with driving without insurance following a collision on West Floyd Baker Boulevard last Thursday.

Willie Watts, of Morgan Drive was involved in a collision at West Floyd Baker and Stuard Street at about 10:20 a.m. Thursday. Police said Watts also did not have a registration card for the vehicle he was driving.

- Tim Gulla