Police Find Drunk Driver Passed Out Behind Wheel and Parked Facing Wrong Side of the Street

Niagara Falls Police were on routine patrol around 12:30am on August 20th in the area of 10th Street (Jordan Gardens) when they observed a black 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer parked facing the wrong way and more than two feet from the curb.

As officers approached the vehicle to issue parking citations, they observed a black male slumped over in the driver seat. Officers went to the partially open driver-side window and called out to the male with no response. They had to knock several times before he woke up.

The driver, identified as Tyree Caffee, had slow and slurred speech. He stated that he was driving home from his mother’s apartment. Officers smelled an odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from inside of the vehicle.

Caffee admitted to consuming more than two drinks of alcohol prior to operating his vehicle. He stated he had just left Elk’s Lodge.

Officers asked him to exit the vehicle and advised him that he would be administered field sobriety testing. Once out of the vehicle, officers smelled the same strong odor of alcohol from his breath.

Caffee had a prior DWI arrest in 2023.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus: Officers observed Caffee’s eyes to be yellowed and bloodshot. During the test, he had to be reminded multiple times to keep his head still and to follow instructions. Caffee failed this test.

Walk and Turn: Caffee broke the starting position and almost fell. During the walking state, he stepped off the line multiple times and performed an improper number of steps. He failed this test.

One Leg Stand: Caffee put his foot down multiple times, swayed while balancing and used his arms for balance. He failed this test.

Caffee submitted a preliminary breath test sample of .185% BAC. He was placed under arrest and taken into custody.

A search of his vehicle yielded an empty bottle of Seagram’s gin between the passenger sear and center console. There were also two cold and sealed long iced tea cans on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Caffee was transported to police headquarters for booking and processing. He submitted another chemical breath test sample of .17% BAC.

He was released with an appearance ticket. No further information is available at this time.

Police Find Drunk Driver Passed Out Behind Wheel and Parked Facing Wrong Side of the Street