La Puente Councilman Charged With Drunk Driving

A La Puente councilman was arrested Sunday night on suspicion of drunk driving after he allegedly hit two cars in the parking lot of a City of Industry bar.

Charles H. Storing, a 29-year veteran of the La Puente City Council, was arrested at 9:45 p.m. as he was leaving the Playboy Lounge, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Bob Binkley said.

As he was attempting to leave the parking lot, Storing allegedly backed his gray 1985 four-door Ford into a parked car then drove forward and hit a second car. The second vehicle was then pushed into a third, authorities said.

Damage was estimated at $5,000.

A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy patrolling the parking lot approached Storing and administered a field sobriety test, which Storing failed, Binkley said.

Storing chose to give a urine sample; the results will not be available for two weeks. Storing was cited for misdemeanor driving under the influence and was released at about 4:30 Monday morning.

Ray Williams, owner of the Playboy Lounge, who was working Sunday night, said Storing only had one glass of wine there and was in the bar for about 15 minutes. But after serving Storing the wine, “we wouldn’t serve him any more,” Williams said.

Williams said that Storing appeared intoxicated but was well-behaved. Storing then got something to eat and left soon after, Williams said. Storing has been coming to the Playboy Lounge about twice a month for eight years, Williams said.

Storing did not return telephone calls made to his home and office by The Times.