When deputies arrived on the scene where a driver had run off the road, down an embankment into a ditch before dawn yesterday morning, the driver showed signs of impairment and didn’t believe the deputies were law enforcement officers.

Ezekiel Thomas Morrow, 31, Linton, was arrested by Deputy Devan Goad of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department early yesterday, Tuesday, September 28.

Around 5:55 a.m. yesterday, dispatch at the sheriff’s department got a call about a red truck on the side of the road just north of Newberry on State Road 57.

Deputy Goad, the investigating officer, said GCSD Deputies Harvey Holt and William C. Walker were first to arrive on the scene to find a red 2007 Chevrolet Silverado down an embankment in a ditch on the west side of the road. The driver, later identified as Ezekiel Morrow, sitting in the truck, was asked multiple times for his identification card but Morrow wouldn’t give it to the deputy. Morrow did indicate he had backed into the ditch and couldn’t get out.

Morrow was asked to get out of the truck and Deputy Goad’s report indicates Morrow showed numerous signs of impairment. When Deputy Goad arrived, Morrow was sitting on the ground between two patrol vehicles, sweating profusely with red watery eyes. According to Deputy Goad, Morrow couldn’t sit still and was swinging his head around in circles. When asked what happened, Morrow allegedly could not finish a sentence or make much sense when speaking.

Deputy Walker attempted to get Morrow to take standard field sobriety tests, but Morrow apparently believed Deputy Walker was going to hurt him. Deputy Goad reported Morrow didn’t believe they were officers and started yelling at passing traffic for help. Morrow also allegedly asked if the officers were there to kill him.

Morrow was transported to the sheriff’s department where he was asked twice if he would take sobriety tests there, but Deputy Goad said Morrow would not answer and just had a blank stare on his face.

A search warrant was granted to obtain a blood draw – results pending.

Morrow was booked in at 8:15 a.m. with bond set at $9,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. As of mid-Tuesday afternoon, he had not yet posted bond and was still in custody.

Morrow is facing charges of:

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor,

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person – with a prior within seven years, a Level 6 felony,

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor, and

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated – with a prior within seven years, a Level 6 felony.