A Pennsylvania State Police corporal is facing charges of driving under the influence and resisting arrest after arriving at the state police barracks in Marienville reportedly intoxicated.
Clarion state police said in a criminal complaint that Eric J. Whisner, 47, of Marienville, drove to the barracks in his Toyota Tundra at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday, and on his arrival a fellow corporal observed indicators of Whisner’s being under the influence.
A state police representative confirmed that Whisner is a Pennsylvania State Police corporal who is based out of the Marienville barracks.
The corporal noticed Whisner had bloodshot and glassy eyes, slurred speech, a disheveled appearance and “a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage” coming from his person, all signs of Whisner’s being under the influence, the complaint said.
When the corporal indicated to Whisner that he needed to perform standard field sobriety testing, Whisner said he would not perform testing, according to the complaint.
Whisner was then transported to the Clarion Hospital emergency room for a legal blood draw, where the complaint stated another corporal noticed the odor of alcohol coming from him before Whisner consented to the blood draw.
The blood kit will be sent to a lab for testing, and charges are expected to be amended when results are received, according to the complaint.
Upon being transported back to the Marienville barracks, Whisner was read his Miranda rights but refused to be interviewed for the incident and reported a minor injury to his hand, the complaint said.
Whisner is facing misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence/unsafe driving and resisting arrest and a summary count of careless driving.
His preliminary hearing is set for April 2 before Forest County district judge Daniel L. Miller.