A Bloomfield driver arrested last week during a traffic stop in the Linton area is accused of possession of meth and pot.

Thomas Wayne Staten, 52, Bloomfield, was arrested by Deputy Jordan Allor of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday night, April 13.

Staten was the driver of a blue 2016 Ford F-150 pickup truck headed east on West State Road 54 in Linton around 7 p.m. last Tuesday.

Deputy Allor was traveling behind the truck that he said failed to signal a turn onto 6th Street NW. He also said the registration sticker on the truck expired in 2020.

Staten said he knew the sticker was expired and that his brother was supposed to replace it. He also said he had just updated his driver’s license at the license branch but he couldn’t find it. A records check revealed he did not have a driver’s license but had been issued a state identification card.

LPD Officer Bobby Pierce was also on the scene to assist and both officers said they noticed Staten was exhibiting signs of impairment including constantly moving and talking and appearing to be nervous.

Due to a recent eye injury, alternative field sobriety tests were administered but Staten did not do well. He agreed to submit to a blood draw but during a search prior to being transported, a clear plastic corner baggie containing a white crystal substance was found in his wallet. The substance tested positive as methamphetamine. Another small Ziploc style bag containing white powder residue was found in the driver’s side door pocket along with a smoking device containing green plant material. The substance in the Ziploc bag field-tested positive as methamphetamine and the plant material field-tested positive as marijuana.

A blood draw was taken at Greene County General Hospital – results pending. Staten was then transported and booked in the Greene County Jail at 9:30 p.m.

Staten is facing preliminary charges of:

Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and
Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor.

Staten has been held without bond pending court appearance and his initial hearing is scheduled for tomorrow morning, Tuesday, April 20, in Greene Superior Court.