Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said a 28-year-old man had been drinking at the Mornington Taphouse and was refused service about 8pm yesterday, due to intoxication.
The man was seen driving away by ‘‘multiple witnesses’’.
When he later returned to the tavern, police were called.
About 8.40pm, police found the man in the car park, sitting in the driver’s seat of a car that was still hot, Snr Sgt Bond said.
When officers tried to get the man to do a breath test, his associate became aggressive.
He ended up being pepper sprayed and arrested about 9pm, Snr Sgt Bond said.
The driver subsequently recorded a breath alcohol level of 1441mcg - a high reading, he said.
It was more than four times the legal limit.
The alcohol limit for drivers aged 20 years and over is 250mcg of alcohol per litre of breath.
