When a driver from Linton allegedly pulled out in front of a school bus east of Bloomfield on Tuesday, almost causing a collision, a law enforcement officer was a witness.

Christopher Dwight Deckard, 36, Linton, was arrested by Deputy Marshal Wayman JR Blazier of the Bloomfield Police Department on Tuesday, December 8.

Deckard appeared in Greene Superior Court earlier today for an initial hearing.

Officer Blazier, the investigating officer, explained in a probable cause affidavit that around 4:49 p.m. on Tuesday, December 8, Deputy Jordan Allor of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department was traveling on State Road 54 just east of Bloomfield when he saw a red 1997 Jeep pull into traffic and almost cause a collision with a school bus that was also traveling on SR 54. Deputy Allor followed the Jeep into Bloomfield and reported the Jeep was going 65 mph in a 50 mph zone. Near the intersection of County Road 70 East and SR 54, Deputy Allor initiated a traffic stop.

The driver was identified as Christopher Deckard.

Before the stop, Deputy Allor was assisting another deputy with a different incident and Deputy Allor had been following the other deputy who was headed to the sheriff’s department. So Deputy Allor contacted Officer Blazier for assistance and Officer Blazier arrived to take over the stop. Deputy Allor explained he had witnessed the driver pull out in front of a school bus.

A records check revealed Deckard’s driving license was suspended and he had a prior conviction for driving while suspended.

Deckard allegedly admitted that a couple of hours earlier, he had taken his prescribed medication suboxone, which is a Schedule III controlled substance. Officer Blazier noted that Deckard appeared to be impaired with glassy and slightly-dilated eyes and thick-tongued speech.

Deckard was reported to have failed standard field sobriety tests on the scene and was transported to the sheriff’s department where he again failed tests in a controlled environment.

Deckard was then transported to Greene County General Hospital for a blood draw – results pending.

During the required inventory of Deckard’s vehicle prior to towing, officers located four used syringes, two small baggies with a white residue, another baggie with a white crystal substance, empty glass vials and a glass smoking pipe with white residue. Some of these items were sent to a lab for analysis.

Deckard denied knowing the illegal items were in the vehicle and said it was his friend’s vehicle. Deckard was asked if DNA samples were taken off the items, would his DNA be present? Deckard said his DNA would not be present. Officer Blazier then offered for Deckard to consent to a DNA sample to prove the items were not his. Deckard agreed then changed his mind and refused to give a DNA sample.

Deckard was booked into jail at 7:02 p.m.

In court earlier today, a public defender was appointed to represent Deckard and he was charged with:

Driving while suspended – a knowing violation with a prior conviction within 10 years, a Class A misdemeanor,
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor,
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor,
Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and
Unlawful possession of syringe, a Level 6 felony.

His bond was set at $13,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. As of early this evening, he had not posted bond and was still in jail.