CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. -- Cherokee County police said they have arrested a man for the fifth time for driving under the influence of alcohol. Police said the man was five times over the legal limit and they were "amazed he was conscious."

Cherokee County police said 37-year-old Mark Douglas stumbled across a Woodstock parking lot to his car with a beer in his hand. The car's engine was running.

"He actually had a beer sitting between his legs," said Officer Shane Collie with the Woodstock Police Department.

VIDEO: Cherokee Police Arrest Man For Fifth DUI

Douglas admitted to drinking at least five beers and to a previous DUI.

On the tape, the officer can be heard asking Douglas when had he last been arrested for DUI. Douglas answered, "Fifteen years ago."

Authorities said this was actually Douglas' fifth DUI arrest in 18 years, the last being in 1999. And authorities said on this occasion, Douglas blew five times the legal limit.

"When I initially saw the reader on the Alca sensor, I actually thought it was broken because it went to .47 and I've never seen it read that high," said Collie.

The legal limit in Georgia for drivers over 21 is .08.

Another reading at the police station read .432. "I've never seen anybody to this level in my life," said Collie. Collie said he was amazed Douglas was still conscious.

"Most people who get alcohol poisoning can get alcohol poisoning in the threes. In the fours, most people generally die or they're in comas," said Collie.

Woodstock police credit a watchful bystander for calling 911 before Douglas got on the road.

"There's no telling what he could have done. He could have killed himself or his passenger or an innocent bystander who might have been walking down the road or another motorist," said Collie.

Douglas is being held in the Cherokee County Jail. His first court appearance will be September 23.