BOZEMAN – A man with five prior DUI convictions was arrested Friday after allegedly speeding on the interstate with a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit and nearly rear-ending a pickup truck.
Court documents state that a Montana Highway Patrol officer stopped Melvin Strong, 69, on I-90 in Bozeman around 8 p.m. on Friday. The officer was responding to reports that Strong was driving more than 80 miles per hour and had nearly struck three delineator posts before almost crashing into the rear of a pickup truck.
According to the officer, Strong had two open beer cans in his vehicle, smelled strongly of alcohol, and had glossy, bloodshot eyes. He reportedly consented to a breath test that returned a result of .187, more than twice the legal limit of .08 percent.
In Gallatin County Justice Court on Monday, Judge Bryan Adams set Strong’s bail at $100,000 due to his prior convictions and the threat his alleged driving behavior poses to the community.
