The University of Florida's Student Body President-elect was arrested by Key West police after they say he drunkenly tried to climb onto several parked motorcycles, then knocked them over when he couldn't start them.

William Smith Meyers, 22, of Tampa's Davis Islands area, was charged with criminal mischief/vandalism Tuesday, an arrest report said.

Meyers was elected student body president late last month after serving as UF's student senate president. He ran with the campaign slogan "Character that counts."

The police report said Meyers was so drunk he didn't realize he was in Key West, the officer's report said, telling the officer he was trying to get home to Clearwater.

"Meyers was so intoxicated that he did not even recall coming down to Key West for spring break vacation," the report said.

He didn't understand he had knocked the motorcycles over, suggesting to the officer that "people don't know how to ride their bikes."

'I explained to Meyers that he did not push over a bicycle, he pushed over two Harley-Davidson motorcycles," the officer's report said.

The motorcycles each had about $500 worth of damage, the report said.

UF spokesman John Hines said university officials are aware of the arrest, but that a misdemeanor charge, in general, wouldn't affect any student's status.

Key West Police spokesman Alyson Crean explained the absence of an alcohol-related charge against Meyers, saying Wednesday that police try to use discretion when weighing criminal charges against the many college students who flock to the island town for Spring Break.

"We don't want to ruin this kid's life for knocking over a couple of bikes," she said.