A Louisville man was charged with multiple crimes Saturday after allegedly driving under the influence of nitrous oxide.
Louisville Metro Police responded to a call just before 10 a.m. Friday.
At the scene, a witness told officers that her ex-husband, 49-year-old Alexander Raitz, had shown up and driven his car all over her front yard.
Police said they were able to identify the suspect’s vehicle after receiving home security video of the incident.
The victim also told investigators that Raitz had a history of huffing nitrous oxide, which made him act erratic and potentially violent.
After officers completed taking their report, Raitz drove his car off Eastern Parkway and stopped on the victim’s front yard. Police ordered Raitz to stop before he drove away down Keswick Blvd at a high speed.
While police were searching for Raitz, the victim called Louisville Metro Police Department two more times, saying that Raitz had once again driven through her yard and garden, causing at least $2,500 in damages.
Police said Raitz then drove back to his home on Saratoga Blvd., where police received another call of a reckless driver in a vehicle that matched Raitz’s.
Officers arrived at the location, where Raitz then drove into a police vehicle before fleeing the scene.
Shortly after, Raitz’s car was spotted by LMPD’s Air Unit in the area of Eastern Parkway and Alexander Avenue. Police attempted to make a traffic stop at the intersection of Preston Parkway and Eastern Parkway, leading to Raitz driving down the wrong direction on Shelby Street.
Officers tried to make another stop at Poplar Level Road and Clarks Lane before Raitz began to drive on the sidewalk and then run a red light at the intersection of Poplar Level and Trevillian Way.
LMPD SWAT eventually deployed a grappler device, bringing Raitz to a stop at Trevillian and Carlton, where he was ordered to step out of his car, which the 49-year-old refused to do.
Raitz continued to resist as officers attempted to pull him out of the car, causing police to use a K9 to bring him into custody.
According to arrest documents, officers saw dozens of both used and unused canisters of nitrous oxide in plain view in the car. Police said they were unable to complete a field sobriety test because of Raitz’s behavior, but believe that he was intoxicated on nitrous oxide at the time of the arrest.
Raitz was taken to Baptist East Hospital for medical clearance before heading to Louisville Metro Department of Corrections.
Raitz is charged with fleeing or evading police, criminal mischief, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, reckless driving, harassment, disregarding traffic and wanton endangerment.
His arraignment was scheduled for Saturday at 9 a.m.
Source: WDRB+WAVE
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