Police say car dealer Reed used vehicle without permissionBMW owner thought he was taking spin around the block By Schuyler Kropf (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Saturday, September 1, 2007
BMW owner thought he was taking spin around the block One of Charleston's best-known car dealers may have taken a late-night test drive too far. Gene Reed was arrested outside his downtown Charleston home early Thursday after taking someone else's BMW convertible for a lengthy spin outside a Mount Pleasant bar and restaurant. The owner of the car thought Reed was taking the car around the block. Police later found Reed and the car outside his Meeting Street home. The car, a silver 650i, had bumped into the property's front gate, "causing some gouging on the front bumper," a Mount Pleasant police incident report says. Reed, 69, was arrested and charged with use of a vehicle without permission, a misdemeanor. He referred all questions to his attorneys. Andy Savage, one of Reed's lawyers, said Friday that Reed made a mistake and had no intention to criminally deprive anyone of their car. "He feels terrible" about the event, Savage said. The BMW carries a suggested retail price of $81,700. The event started around midnight Wednesday at the Red Drum Gastropub on Coleman Boulevard. Reed, according to a police incident report, approached the vehicle's owner, identified as Chris A. McIntosh, and said he wanted to get a BMW. McIntosh let Reed sit in the driver's seat for a moment, the police report says. Once seated behind the wheel, Reed asked how to lower the convertible roof and other aspects of the car. "Reed handed the valet some money and drove off in McIntosh's BMW," the report says. Police were able to trace Reed's residence from the license tag of his blue Bentley convertible still parked at the Red Drum. When police spotted the car outside Reed's Charleston home, Reed insisted he was driving the Bentley, which is more than twice as expensive as the BMW. Reed was released Thursday afternoon from the Charleston County Detention Center on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond, a jail records official said. |
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Comments
This article has 21 comment(s)
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Posted by Cid95 on September 1, 2007 at 12:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The wild happenings of Mt P nightlife.
Posted by cannonfodder on September 1, 2007 at 1:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr Gene ok we know you probably had a little more to drink then you should have ....... now I guess you gotta take some flak for it......you will be ok just do the right thing.
Posted by ChasGuy71 on September 1, 2007 at 3:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One more drunk driver that was not charged. It's no wonder SC has such a horrible alcohol related fatality ranking when the police are too lazy to make a DUI case. They always arrest the person for reckless driving or some other small thing that has no real effect on the person.
Posted by Mayor on September 1, 2007 at 5:43 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by orpheus on September 1, 2007 at 6:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
another rich charleston puke getting away with it. that's one of the reasons this whole country is so f"ed up. rich folk that get get a different style of justice
Posted by proud2bme on September 1, 2007 at 7:41 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by majorjohnson on September 1, 2007 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How do you expect them to take BAC when the car is in the drive and Reed is in his home? He isn't driving, he isn't even in the car, and there is no way to prove that he wasn't sober till he got home and then chugged a gallon of vodka as soon as he got there. Sounds to me like he was so drunk he forgot he wasn't in his own Bentley and just headed home, but there's no way the police can make an alcohol charge stick after the fact.
Posted by proud2bme on September 1, 2007 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
By far do I have a problem with someone being rich. What I do have a problem with is someone who thinks they can use their money to bribe or intimidate others to get what they want.
Posted by hawneena on September 1, 2007 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They don't call him "Gene on the half shell" for nothing.
The wait staff loves him, though, he's a great tipper.
He had been at the Red Drum? What a traitor, RB's staff will be mad at you, Gene.
Posted by roxiann on September 1, 2007 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amazing how a story gets written when a prominent advertiser of the Post-Courier is involved. This man was driving a stolen vehicle-most -- likely DUI - and could've killed himself or someone else. He needs help, NOW. Can you say "wakeup-call"?
Posted by pacomarj on September 1, 2007 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So, I've been on here reading articles for maybe 10 minutes this morning and have seen Andy Savage as the lawyer for three people. There must be other lawyers in Charleston. I'm sure he's good, but it's getting ridiculous.
Posted by proud2bme on September 1, 2007 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Harpo, right on the money you are!! I too would love to hear more about this incident. I'm sure with Gene's reputation, he has already contacted the owner of the beemer and offered something in return to keep tight lipped about it.
Posted by hawneena on September 1, 2007 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The owner obviously gave him the keys. Maybe they are friends of a sort, and he will drop charges. These things take on a different outlook once the mind is clear of alcohol.
I'm guessing before the day is out, I might find out who the beemer owner is.
Posted by pacomarj on September 1, 2007 at 1:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
cvs, I'm sure I would want him as my lawyer.
Posted by roseb on September 1, 2007 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The name of the owner of the BMW is in the article.
Posted by hawneena on September 1, 2007 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
roseb, yes it does. I was joking.
He didn't steal the car actually, he just drove it further than around the block.
The valet wouldn't have let him have the keys just for a good tip.
There is more to this than they have told.
Posted by hawneena on September 1, 2007 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Harpo, I am going to make a phone call to a Mt. P officer, and see if they will tell me what's up on this.
Even if you know them well sometimes they can't tell you. It's worth a try.
Posted by hawneena on September 1, 2007 at 9:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I left a voice mail. No return call yet.
Posted by proud2bme on September 1, 2007 at 10:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not to worry, he will get out of this just as he has in the past. At the age of 69, I'm sure he has alcohol induced dementia. He will either become a born again christain or we will hear more demented related issues.
Posted by wilbur on September 4, 2007 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fact is he did not have permission to drive the car. The owner did know him mostly just by name and only let him sit in it. With Gene's history of alcohol abuse it is apparent he probably thought he was in his car - and maybe not. A couple hours elapsed from the time he left Red Drum until he got home that indicated he was out joyriding (more drinking and womanizing). The charge should have been grand-theft and probably DUI, but it does appear the police were just a few minutes late as they pulled in as Gene arrived at home. The BMW onwner is a nice guy and probably would not pursue any greater charges. Any other person without the money, lawyers, and power would have been in more serious trouble. It could have ended much worse.
Posted by Chancellor on September 5, 2007 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunately, I can confirm that this doesn't only apply to the "Rich and Famous". We had a family member break into our house, steal my car keys and my wife's car. The ONLY thing he was charged with was breach of trust. (which isnt possible because I don't trust him as far as I can throw him).