AUBURN — A Lewiston man who crashed the car he was driving into the ladies’ room at Ruby Tuesday restaurant after allegedly inhaling dust remover pleaded not guilty Thursday to driving under the influence.

David Witas Jr., 42, appeared in Androscoggin County Superior Court. The felony charge, criminal OUI, is punishable by up to five years in prison.

He was held in jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail. He is scheduled for trial next month on unrelated charges.

Witas was driving his mother’s white SUV when it crashed into the wall of the restaurant at 649 Turner St. and stopped in the women’s bathroom, according to a police affidavit in court files. Nobody was in the restroom at the time. The sink area and part of the ceiling were damaged.

Witas’ license had been suspended and he had bail conditions pending from four court cases, police said. Those charges are OUI, operating a vehicle beyond license restriction, violation of conditions of release and failure to stop.

A responding officer found a can of dust cleaner in the vehicle.

Witas said he had driven from his home to Walmart to buy the cleaner. He huffed (inhaled) its contents while in the parking lot, then tried to drive home, he told police, according to the affidavit.

“He couldn’t clearly recall how he ended up in the wall of the restaurant,” Officer Donald Cousins wrote.

A technician drew a blood sample from Witas to be examined by a lab for intoxicants.

Although one of his bail conditions is no possession or use of alcohol, he admitted to police he had been drinking, police said.

Witas was injured during the crash and was taken to a Lewiston hospital.