On 5/28/2024 at approximately 21:51 ( 9:51 pm) Deputy Griffith with the Calhoun County Sheriffs Office was patrolling in the area of Main Street and 5th Ave traveling West bound in Hampton Arkansas when he observed a red in color Chevy Pickup cross the center yellow line two times causing the driver front and driver rear tires to be in the East bound lane of traffic.
The Red Chevy Pickup was being followed by a white Ford Explore due to the vehicle not being directly in front of Deputy Griffith, Griffith waited until the vehicles reached the red light at the intersection of Main and Lee street in Hampton Arkansas to conduct a traffic stop, at this time Deputy Griffith activated his emergency blue lights to conduct a traffic stop on the red chevy pickup the white Ford explore moved to the right shoulder of the roadway letting Deputy Griffith drive behind the red Chevy pickup.
Upon the traffic light turning green the red Chevy pickup crossed Lee St driving west bound onto East Main street in Hampton Ar. coming to a stop on the right side of main street in front of Mark Hodnett insurance. Deputy Griffith notified CCSO dispatch of the location of stop, while relaying the information to dispatch the driver of Red Chevy Pickup exited his vehicle and began walking towards Deputy Griffith’s patrol vehicle.
Deputy Griffith advised the driver to return back to his vehicle and he would be with him momentarily. Deputy Griffith approached the Driver of the red Chevy pickup and advised him of who he was and the reason for the traffic stop.
While speaking to the Driver of the Red Chevy pickup deputy Griffith noticed that the Drivers eyes where watery and bloodshot and that when the driver spoke there was a fruity odor omitting from the drivers breath commonly associated with alcoholic beverages, while speaking to the driver Deputy Griffith observed a small open/empty bottle of Hennessy laying on the center console.
At this time Deputy Griffith asked the driver if he had, had anything to drink on this night, the driver stated to Deputy Griffith that he had drank 1 beet around 4:30 pm. Deputy Griffith asdked about the Hennesy bottle to which the driver stated that it was old.
Deputy Griffith asked the driver for his driving licenses and returned to his patrol vehicle to run the drivers licenses through ACIC. At this time the driver of the red Chevy Pickup was identified as Charles Edward Lewis B/M DOB (redacted) of Hampton Arkansas.
Deputy Griffith returned to Mr. Lewis and asked again how much he had to drink and when to which Lewis replied he had a beer after he got off work, Lewis explained that he could not have beer in his truck at work. Deputy Griffith advised Lewis that he wanted to conduct some field sobriety testing to which Lewis agreed to do.
Deputy Griffith asked Lewis if he had any eye problems such as resting nystagmus, Lewis advised that he got antifreeze in his eye some time back. Deputy Griffith then asked Lewis to walk over to the side walk with him where the ground was more level and out of the traffic way.
Deputy Griffith had Lewis remove his glasses for the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus field sobriety test. Lewis pre formed the HGN test and showed multiple clues of intoxication, The results are as follows,
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus
Blood shot eyes, watery eyes, swaying while standing heel to heel toe to toe with arms strait down by his side, lack of smooth pursuit in both left and right eyes, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum diviation in both left and right eyes.
Deputy Griffith then tried to explain the 9 step walk and turn test to Lewis, while explaining the rules of the 9 step walk and turn to Lewis, Lewis told Deputy Griffith that he did not have time for this shit he would just to to the office and take the test down there. Lewis refused any other road side SFST.
Upon returning to Deputy Griffith’s patrol vehicle Deputy Griffith asked Lewis to give a breath sample into his PBT to which Lewis refused.
Deputy Griffith told Lewis that he was being placed under arrest for DWI and advised him to place his hands behind his back. Lewis became irate and told Deputy Griffith that he was not going to jail that he would drive to the Office to take the test.
Deputy Griffith told Lewis he was not driving due to being intoxicated. Deputy Griffith attempted to place Lewis in wrist restraints, Lewis jerked away and said he was not under arrest.
Action Towing arrived on scene and took possession of the Red Chevy Pickup at approximatley 22:15 (11:15pm) At this time Deputy Griffith transported Lewis to Calhoun County Sheriffs Office with out further incicent.
Lewis was booked into the Calhoun County Jail on the above stated charges and released to his wife’s responsibility.
Lewis recived a citation 0A0A1981008 for the above stated charges with a court date of 07/02/2024 at 0900 (9:00am).
