AUBURN - An Auburn man was arrested early Thursday morning on charges he drove into a building while he was drunk and fled the scene, police said.

According to the Auburn Police Department, Jayme Cleveland, 35, of 56 N. Division St., allegedly ran his Chevrolet sport utility vehicle into Nice Worx Smoke Shop on 69 Franklin St. at approximately 4:30 a.m. before driving away and striking a telephone pole on Lewis Street. Police said he was located in his vehicle a short time later near 90 Chapman Ave.

Cleveland was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated and a second charge of driving while intoxicated, both misdemeanors, as well as leaving the scene of an accident and aggravated unlicensed operation. Police said that Cleveland is currently on parole.

Scott Henderson, who said he is the son of the business owner, spent much of Thursday cleaning up the damage at Nice Worx. Henderson said that when he received a call early Thursday from the security company, he figured the damage was limited to broken windows and a brick or two being knocked out of the wall.

“When we got here, there was a huge, gaping hole in the wall. More than a third of the side of the wall was gone,” Henderson said. “It looked like shock and awe had happened.”

Henderson said the business, which sells tobacco and novelty items, has lost “thousands” of dollars in merchandise, as well as records and a cash register.

“I'm just happy no one was hurt,” Henderson said. “It is a little irritating thinking that this could have been avoided. But hopefully I'll be reopened soon.”

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net