Michael Garcia, 29, of 2359 US Hwy 705E, Hickory, North Carolina

MERRIMACK – According to the police account of the series of events that led to the recent arrest of Michael Garcia, the 29-year-old North Carolina man appears to have a shaky sense of judgement, but he also seems to be a man who keeps his word.

Garcia, of the western North Carolina city of Hickory, is facing one count each of operating after suspension and reckless operation, the result of his arrest without incident by officers who pulled him over not far from police headquarters.

He was booked and later released on personal recognizance bail pending arraignment, which is scheduled for May 11 at Merrimack district court.

According to police, the series of incidents that led to Garcia’s arrest began when the department received a call from an employee of a local towing company, who told police that “an angry customer” had just picked up his vehicle, which had been towed to the company’s lot a day earlier.

The “angry customer,” later identified as Garcia, allegedly told the towing company employee that he “would be speeding by the police department” once he left the tow lot.

Sure enough, Garcia, “keeping true to his word,” police said, “was observed by officers” as he allegedly sped past the station, as well as an elementary school across the street, driving “well in excess of the posted speed limit.”

And even if nobody at the police station saw Garcia’s car go by, it’s quite likely they still would have noticed him: His car, police said, allegedly had “a loud and poorly maintained exhaust system.”

It was the noisy exhaust that, police said, enabled officers “to easily locate the vehicle” and conduct the motor vehicle stop.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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