A man suspected of driving under the influence of a controlled substance in March was a no-show after being summoned to appear in court in May. A warrant was issued and he was booked into the Greene County Jail last Friday.

Kevin Eugene Hatfield, 44, Oaktown, Ind., was booked into the Greene County Jail last Friday afternoon, June 4, on a warrant that issued for his arrest in early May.

Hatfield is facing charges that stem from a traffic stop in Linton in mid-March.

Officer Bobby Pierce of the Linton Police Department stopped a maroon 2006 Chrysler Sebring at the intersection of State Road 54 and 5th Street NW at 12:55 a.m. on March 19. Officer Pierce said he observed the vehicle driving left of center at the intersection of SR 54 and 11th Street NW.

Hatfield was the driver who said it had been awhile since he was in Linton, insinuating that was the reason why he cut a curve and crossed the center line.

Officer Pierce reported Hatfield showed signs of impairment, specifically that he displayed signs of methamphetamine use, but Hatfield allegedly said he had not used anything for three days or so.

Hatfield allegedly failed field sobriety testing but consented to a blood draw, taken at Greene County General Hospital – results pending.

During a search prior to transport, a burnt hand-rolled cigarette containing green plant material was found on Hatfield’s person.

Officer Pierce reported that during a search of Hatfield’s vehicle required before towing, he found a clear plastic zip bag with green leafy plant material, a smoking device, digital scale, hand-rolled cigarette containing green leafy plant material, a metal grinder containing the same plant material, and vape pen labeled THC 90 percent, and a prescription pill container (with someone else’s name on the label) with an Ambien pill – Ambien is a controlled substance.  

Hatfield was not arrested at the time, but he was advised that information would be submitted to the prosecutor’s office for possible charges.

A criminal case was filed against Hatfield in Greene Superior Court in mid-April and a summons was sent to Hatfield ordering him to be in court for an initial hearing on May 4. Hatfield was a no-show and a warrant was then issued for his arrest.

In the meantime, Hatfield was jailed in Knox County and last Friday, he was transferred to Greene County.

His bond was set at $5,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He posted $500 and was released.

He’s now due in court for a rescheduled initial hearing on June 17 on charges of:

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

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

• Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and

• Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.