Liberty Board of Education Vice-President Christopher Brookbank pleaded not guilty to charges during a Tuesday court appearance scheduled after police say he left the scene of an accident where his car ran into a utility pole.

Bond for Christopher Brookbank, 49, was set at $5,000 in Girard Municipal Court where he appeared to answer charges of operating a vehicle under the influence, failing to maintain control of his vehicle, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Police and firefighters were called to Logan Way and Churchill Hubbard Road to investigate a reported crash at 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

Officers say they found a shattered utility pole and car parts from a Buick, but no car and no driver.

 

  Liberty Police

 A short time later police say they found Brookbank’s damaged Buick at Logan Way and Colonial Drive. When the police found Brookbank nearby, they said in their report that he was stumbling.

Brookbank was handcuffed and taken to the police station where officers say he refused field sobriety and breath tests.

According to the police report, Brookbank told an officer he had been at a Belmont Avenue bar, but he didn’t believe he struck the pole.

21 News has reached out via email to Brookbank and the school board president for comment and has yet to receive a response.

Another court hearing for Brookbank is scheduled in late January.