Traffic stop leads to DUI arrest
William White
Story by Senior Investigative Reporter Shannon Taylor
On Oct. 29 around 8:45 p.m, Deputy Seth Callens observed a gold Cadillac sedan travelling north on Hyndsver Road and North Lindell Street in Martin with no lights on. Callens initiated his emergency equipment and both his unit and the sedan came to a stop in the parking lot at the Eagle Inn.
Callens then made contact with the driver, 51-year-old William White of Martin, who stated he was dropping a friend off. While speaking with White, Callens noticed slurring in his speech and red, glassy eyes indicative of being under the influence.
Callens then requested White’s driver’s license and he stated that he did not have one. After Callens ran his license by name and date of birth, White showed a revoked license for a DUI out of Weakley County.
Callens then asked White to step out of the vehicle so that he could perform the standardized field sobriety test. Callens asked White if he had anything to drink and White said he’d had a 40 which was later pointed out by Deputy Brown in the back floorboard by the passenger side of the vehicle.
There was also an open container of alcohol found in the vehicle. Callens was not able to complete the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test due to White not being compliant by following the tip of Callens finger with his head instead of following with his eyes only.
White completed the first nine steps of the sobriety test but did not take a series of small steps for the second part of the test. While performing the first half of the sobriety test, White stepped offline, used his hands for balance, missed heel to toe and took ten steps on his second attempt of the test.
During the one-leg stand, White put his foot down, used his hands for balance and swayed. After the tests were completed, Callens determined that White was under the influence of alcohol.
White was booked with Weakley County Jail and charged with DUI, driving on revoked, light law violation, open container and violation of implied consent law.
