(Michigan City, IN) - A Michigan City man was allegedly impaired by alcohol when he sideswiped a police car last week.

Police said it was nearly 3 a.m. when a Michigan City Police officer was at a traffic stop at St. John Road and Ohio St.

Despite the flashing lights activated, John Beard, 60, sideswiped the entire driver’s side of the fully marked squad car.  Police said Beard stumbled out of his vehicle and had an odor of alcohol on his breath.

He was arrested for allegedly refusing to take a breathalyzer test.

The OWI charge was upgraded to a felony because he had previous OWI conviction in another county, police said. 

The squad car was parked when sideswiped and the officer driving it was not inside at the time.