Man is said to have driven recklessly through courtyards near the UE and insulted students

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – An Evansville man is facing charges following an overnight incident near the UE campus.

On Sunday at 12:09 a.m., officers were called to East Sycamore Street for a suspected drunken driver.

Officers said they approached the driver, later identified as 57-year-old Michael C. Banks, and ordered him to put his pickup truck into park.

According to an affidavit, Banks hesitated but eventually put the engine in park.

A UE security officer, who had called the operations center, was asked to come to the scene of the accident to clearly identify the vehicle and the driver.

The UE official told EPD that students reported Banks driving through courtyards and verbally abusing them on campus.

The university official said Banks repeatedly slammed on his brakes and sped away each time he approached the vehicle.

At one point, the officer said, Banks drove straight toward him through a front yard.

The UE officer told police he had to accelerate to prevent Banks from colliding with his car.

After speaking with officers, the EPD took Banks to jail for booking.

Prison guards reportedly found a small pink pill in Banks' left pocket. Police say he had previously told officers he didn't have anything on him.

Michael C. Banks was arrested and booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail on charges of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and human trafficking of inmates.

All rights reserved.