A Dexter man was charged with his third drunken-driving offense after he tried to elude a police officer by running into a Waterboro house and escaping through a bathroom window.

York County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Collins on Wednesday afternoon attempted to stop a loud truck that did not appear to have an exhaust or muffler system. Once the truck stopped on Sokokis Trail in Waterboro, the driver – later identified as 30 year-old David Barrett – ran into a nearby house.

The homeowner, who was familiar with Barrett, gave deputies permission to search the house and they determined Barrett had escaped out of the bathroom window at the back of the house, said Sheriff Bill King. Barrett was found in the woods hiding behind brush.

Barrett, who King said appeared intoxicated, had a suspended driver’s license and was under bail conditions prohibiting him from possessing or drinking alcoholic beverages. He was charged with operating after suspension, felony operating under the influence, refusing to submit to arrest or detention, violating conditions of release and operating without a license. He was also issued a warning for the minor infractions of failure to display a certificate of inspection and operating a vehicle with excessive exhaust noise, King said.

King said the operating under the influence charge against Barrett is a felony because it is his third arrest on that charge.

Barrett is not eligible for bail and is being held at York County Jail pending his video arraignment Friday.

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