A Chapel Hill man had a pretty bad day recently, which ended with him showing up on three police reports within 24 hours: Twice as an arrestee, and once as a complainant.
On March 5th, 53-year-old David Patillo was arrested for driving while impaired on Franklin Street near Estes Drive, shortly after 1 a.m. Patillo blew a .2 on his breathalyzer test.
According to Lt. Josh Mecimore of the Chapel Hill Police Department, the arresting officer originally stopped Patillo for speeding.
He was held for four hours at Orange County Jail and released without bond.
And the story continues.
“After he was released from the jail and came to pick up his vehicle the following afternoon at four o’clock,” said Mecimore, “he was cited for urinating in public, in the front parking lot of the police department.”
That was just uncalled-for.
“We have bathrooms inside,” said Mecimore.
Unfortunately for Patillo, after he was released, again, from custody, he soon found that he had a new priority No. 1 at the police station: Asking the officers for help.
“He was later the complainant in an automobile theft, where he couldn’t locate his vehicle,” said Mecimore. “It was last parked on the side of the road on Deming Road.”
The missing car is a 2001 red Mercury Sable, with the license plate CJL2622.
If you see it around town, please report it to the Chapel Hill police, and help out a guy who had a really bad day.
Related Stories
‹
![]()
The Evening News: Chapel Hill Vehicle Break-Ins, UNC FootballIn today's news: Chapel Hill police warn residents to secure their vehicles after a string of 60 break-ins over the weekend.
![]()
The Morning News: Mike Roberson, Chatham Pipeline, Chapel Hill Vehicle Break-Ins, Dean DomeIn today's news: former Chatham County sheriff Mike Roberson steps into a new role as a Chatham County Commissioner.

Chapel Hill Police Creates Team to Investigate Vehicle Break-Ins; 14 Reported Over WeekendThe department said it responded to 14 vehicle break-ins over the weekend, and 320 so far in 2026. The team will focus on finding patterns.

Judy Miller's Not Ready for the Farm: Stop Senior ScamsThis week - Scammers are getting smarter and increasingly targeting older adults — but you can stay one step ahead. In this episode, we sit down with Amy Nofziger from the AARP Fraud Watch Network, who brings 20+ years of experience helping victims and tracking emerging scams. She breaks down the most common schemes hitting seniors today, how criminals use emotional manipulation and even AI-generated voices, and how you can spot a scam before it happens. You’ll also learn exactly what to do if you or a loved one falls victim, plus the free resources available to help protect your family. This episode also includes bonus radio content, a compelling interview with Chapel Hill Police Chief Celisa Lehew weighing in on the topic. This is an essential conversation to share with anyone at risk.
Not Ready for the Farm is proudly presented by: Purple Puddle, Clarity Legal Group, Health Source Chiropractic, HOPE Renovations, and The 79°West Innovation Hub.

Chapel Hill Police Arrest, Charge Man For Stealing Car At GunpointOfficers arrested 32-year-old Alexander Quinn Zeman, who the department says approached two people and demanded their keys at gunpoint.

Former Chapel Hill Police Officer Arrested For Planning Mass Shooting At Jazz FestA former Chapel Hill police officer was arrested in Florida for plans to carry out a mass shooting at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Shooting In Chapel Hill Leaves One Injured, Police Search For SuspectThe Chapel Hill Police Department said it is searching for the suspect in a late Saturday shooting that left one man injured.

Town Of Chapel Hill Announces Departure From Social Media Site XThe Town of Chapel Hill announced it will no longer post or monitor its accounts on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Bicyclist Injured By Driver Along NC Highway 54 in Chapel HillA driver struck and injured a bicyclist on N.C. Highway 54 on Thursday evening. Police later cited them for a failure to reduce speed.

UPDATE: Chapel Hill Police Safely Locate Missing TeenThe Chapel Hill Police Department shared in a release Monday morning that it is searching for a missing 14-year-old.
›