Traffic stop leads to DUI and drug arrest
Timothy Ballard
Story by Senior Investigative Reporter Shannon Taylor
On Oct. 10 at 6:32 p.m., Patrolman Joseph Bates with the Gleason Police Department attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a white Buick for speeding 75 in a 55 on Highway 22 in Gleason.
The vehicle would not stop for approximately one mile, when it turned off Highway 22 onto Parks Road into a residential driveway where the driver, 55-year-old Timothy Ballard, exited the vehicle with what appeared to be an alcoholic drink in his hand.
Bates gave Ballard instructions to put the drink on the trunk of the vehicle and speak with him. Ballard had trouble standing, slurred speech, bloodshot, watery eyes and smelled of alcohol. Ballard then stated that Bates had caught him.
Bates asked Ballard several times to perform standard field sobriety tests which he refused. Bates then placed him under arrest and put him in the back of his patrol vehicle where he informed him of his Miranda rights and also attempted to read Ballard the implied consent form for blood/breath testing, which Ballard also refused.
After Ballard was transported to the jail, officers found a small bag of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana in the amount of 1.79 grams in the shirt pocket of Ballard.
Ballard eventually signed the implied consent form and was charged with simple possession of schedule VI, DUI 2nd offense, introduction of contraband in a penal institution, speeding, open container and implied consent.
