A Fort Oglethorpe man was arrested for DUI after he ran over two mailboxes a few houses away from his while under the influence of alcohol, police say.

According to the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department:

Joseph Daniel Scruggs, 30, of Briarstone Drive in Fort Oglethorpe was arrested Wednesday, Feb. 27, for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. He has been released from jail on bond.

The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. after a resident on Briarstone Drive reported that a vehicle had hit her mailbox and the another one nearby.

“The resident … reported that her mailbox had been damaged and that when she went to look at the damage, she spoke to the offender who had walked back to the scene to collect parts of his vehicle,” officer Patrick Stooksbury said.

The resident told police that Scruggs said he didn’t hit the mailbox, and then left the scene again after gathering up damaged parts of his car.

Scruggs’ damaged vehicle was then located at his residence on Briarstone Drive, reports show.

“When I asked Mr. Scruggs what happened, he stated he received a text while driving and looked at his phone causing him to run off the roadway striking the mailboxes,” Stooksbury said. “He then stated he drove home and returned to see the damage. He said he was then confronted by the homeowner whom he told he did not hit the mailbox, but then said he felt bad and returned to make it right.”

During questioning, Stooksbury says he observed Scruggs to be under the influence of alcohol.

“I cold smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage about his breath, and his eyes were red and glassy,” he said.

Scruggs was unable to follow instructions during attempted field sobriety tests, reports show.