A Linton man was pulled over because he was driving after dark without a license plate light or taillights. By the time the stop was over, he was on his way to jail on drug charges and for battery on a law enforcement officer.

Thomas Patrick Gordon, 50, Linton, was arrested by Officer Cayden Walker of the Linton Police Department last Sunday night, November 27.

Officer Walker was on routine patrol around 9:27 PM that night when he saw a maroon 2003 GMC Sonoma southbound on 4th St. SE. He said the Sonoma did not have a taillight or a license plate light that was functioning and he initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of B St. SE and 4th St. SE. The Sonoma traveled to 3rd St. SE on B St. SE before it turned north on 3rd St. SE. It finally came to a stop in front of a residence on 3rd St. SE.

When asked why he did not stop when the emergency lights were activated on the patrol vehicle, Gordon said he didn't see the lights until he turned on to 3rd St. SE and then he thought the officer just needed to get around him but later on he allegedly admitted seeing the lights when he was on B St. SE although he was not sure if he was being pulled over or if the officer just needed to get around him.

During the stop, Gordon was continuously reaching for his pockets after being told not to do that and during a pat down, LPD Lieutenant Bobby Pierce located a glass smoking device containing a white residue in one of the pockets of Gordon's pants. The pipe field-tested positive for methamphetamine.

Officer Walker reported that Lieutenant Pierce had removed a cigarette from Gordon's mouth while Officer Walker searched Gordon and after the cigarette was removed, Gordon delivered a knee strike to the waistline of Lieutenant Pierce.

After the search of Gordon's person was completed, he was transported to the Greene County Sheriff's Department by Officer Walker while Lieutenant Pierce and Officer Mifflin conducted the required inventory of the Sonoma prior to towing.

Officer Walker reported that during the inventory, the officers located a gram of methamphetamine in a cup on the front dash.

Gordon was booked into the Greene County Jail at 10:24 PM where he was held without bond pending court appearance.

Gordon appeared in Greene Superior Court for his initial hearing yesterday, Tuesday, November 29, and was formally charged with: