A Linton driver who got a little off course on his way home then was stopped for a traffic violation, ended up in jail, accused of driving with a BAC of .204.

James Michael Gamble, 69, Linton, was arrested by Deputy Sgt. Jordan Allor of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday night, December 21.

Gamble was the driver of a blue 2005 GMC Sierra that was southbound on County Road 1000 West around 8:23 p.m. that Tuesday. Sgt. Allor was traveling behind the Sierra when it turned east onto CR 200 South but failed to signal the turn. Sgt. Allor hit the red and blue lights and initiated a traffic stop.

When talking to Gamble, Sgt. Allor said Gamble was slow to respond and seemed confused. Gamble didn’t answer when asked where he was coming from but was trying to focus on getting his driver’s license out of his wallet. When asked again, Gamble said he lived in the area and was going home but he paused when the deputy told him he was headed in the wrong direction and was not near his home.

Sgt. Allor reported he could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Gamble and he had slurred speech and other signs of intoxication.

Standard field sobriety testing on the scene was halted for safety reasons – Gamble lost his balance and almost fell. Gamble was transported to the Linton Police Department where he also failed field sobriety testing but he agreed to take a certified chemical breath test. The results showed he had a BAC of .204. The legal limit is .08.

Sgt. Allor said Gamble was convicted previously in 2017 for operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction, a Level 6 felony.

Gamble was arrested then booked into the Greene County Jail at 10:19 p.m. His bond was set at $8,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He posted $800 and was released. He is scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court on January 10 for his initial hearing when he’ll be facing charges of:

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

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

• Operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 or more, a Class A misdemeanor,

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

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction within seven years, a Level 6 felony, and

• Operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 or more with a prior conviction, a Level 6 felony.