Man charged with DUI allegedly flees from trooper, crashes into house

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A man charged with DUI allegedly led a state trooper on a chase and crashed into a house near the airport area on Sunday. Michael Settles, 41, was charged with driving under the influence, tampering with evidence, open container, reckless driving, fleeing scene of an accident, suspended license, failure to maintain lane, traffic-control signals, and financial responsibility. On July 12, at around 11 p.m., a state trooper said he saw a black Mercedes failing to maintain its lane several times in the area of Lamar Avenue and Winchester Road. When trying to conduct a traffic stop, the driver stopped in the left turn lane at the red light, THP said. Once the trooper approached the car, the driver still inched his car forward. The driver was instructed to put the car in park, repeatedly said 'ok' but did not put his car in park, authorities said. The state trooper said he saw an open bottle of brown liquor in the driver's lap, and after continuing to tell the driver to park the car, the driver fled the scene and drove through a red light. A pursuit ensued, and THP said the driver, later identified as Settles, was driving recklessly, ignoring traffic signals and speeding through intersections. During the chase, the trooper saw Settles make a wide turn onto Bishops Bridge Road, and he crashed into a house's front yard and two vehicles in the driveway in the 3500 block of that road. When the trooper arrived at the scene, he did not see Settles in his vehicle, authorities said. The suspect was later detained after the trooper saw him walking on Winchester Road. THP said Settles had a suspended license for failing to pay child support, and he was transported back to the scene. At the scene of the crash, authorities said they did not see the brown bottle that was in the car during the traffic stop. They said Settles removed the bottle from the vehicle when he fled the scene of the crash. Settles later admitted to drinking before the traffic stop and did not have insurance for his vehicle. His bond has not been set. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.