The driver of a car that was dragging something along a highway causing sparks to fly was pulled over by a deputy. The driver wound up in jail.

Donald Keith Thatcher, 58, Bloomfield, was arrested by Deputy Michael Coy of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department. Thatcher was booked in around 1 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, following a traffic stop late on Friday, March 13. Thatcher was being held without bond pending court appearance.

This week, a criminal case was filed against Thatcher. He is facing preliminary charges of:

Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony,
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor, and
Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.

Deputy Coy was on patrol in eastern Greene County when he saw a white passenger car approach the stop sign on State Road 43 and turn right onto State Road 54. Deputy Coy couldn’t see any license plate information and the rear hatch was open. When he got behind the car, he could see loose items in the rear of the vehicle and something was hanging from beneath the vehicle, dragging along on the roadway causing sparks. Deputy Coy reported the vehicle then crossed the center line and didn’t immediately correct its position. Emergency lights on – the deputy initiated a traffic stop.

The driver, later identified as Thatcher, couldn’t get the window rolled down then said his wallet had been stolen and he did not have his driver’s license. He did provide his name and date of birth and an expired registration card.

Thatcher’s license turned out to be suspended.

When Deputy Jordan Allor arrived to assist on the scene, Thatcher failed standard field sobriety tests and was transported to the Greene County Sheriff’s Department where he refused a blood draw. A search warrant for a sample of his blood was approved and a draw completed.

Before Thatcher’s vehicle was towed, Deputy Coy conducted a vehicle inventory and found a pair of underwear in the center console area with a glass smoking device which field-tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.

Results from the blood draw are pending.

As of Friday, March 20, Thatcher was still in the Greene County Jail.