Man charged with ninth DUI

A man has been charged with a ninth instance of driving under the influence of alcohol after a crash Friday night in Evergreen.

Gary Gene Gilbert, 62, is charged with felony DUI and felony criminal mischief after he allegedly pulled out on Evergreen Drive and struck another vehicle.

He then allegedly pulled into the parking lot of Valley Motors and hit two parked cars.

Gilbert did not comply at first when an officer tried to stop him before he pulled over in the parking lot of Les Schwab.

A Montana Highway Patrol trooper determined that Gilbert was unsteady on his feet and smelled of alcohol.

Gilbert refused to provide a breath test, but a blood sample was collected at the hospital. It was sent for analysis to the Montana State Crime Lab.

Gilbert has eight prior DUI convictions dating back to 1990.

He is set to be arraigned on April 28.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.