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Linton man stumbling around in a roadway jailed for public intoxication

After LPD responded twice to one residence on Tuesday night due to a man being drunk and disorderly, and stumbling around in the middle of a roadway, the man was taken into custody and booked into the Greene County Jail.

Todd William Bennett

Todd William Bennett, 28, Linton, was arrested by Officer Wayman JR Blazier of the Linton Police Department on Tuesday night, May 10.

Around 9:17 PM on Tuesday night, one of Bennett's family members contacted the Linton Police Department and said Bennett was being unruly. The caller allegedly said they thought Bennett was under the influence of a controlled substance.

Officer Blazier responded to the residence but it was the second time he'd been there that evening due to earlier reports that Bennett was disorderly.

Officer Blazier reported that when he went out the first time around 7:15 PM, Bennett was in a state of intoxication and he could detect the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Bennett who was in his neighbor’s yard and his own yard. Bennett was advised to turn down the volume on his stereo system. The officer reported that Bennett was confrontational during this incident but the officer was able to de-escalate the situation and Bennett calmed down.

When Officer Blazier responded the second time, he found Bennett walking down the center of the road, actually stumbling around in the middle of the road, near the intersection of 9th Street SW and Vincennes Street SW. Officer Blazier said the roadway was dark and Bennett was endangering himself by being at risk of being hit by a vehicle. When he got closer, he could hear Bennett yelling at a family member, disturbing the peace.

When Officer Blazier got out of his patrol vehicle and tried to talk to Bennett, Bennett allegedly started to cut through yards but was told to stop and Bennett did come back towards the patrol vehicle but his speech was slurred and he was having trouble standing upright, swaying back and forth to keep his balance.

When Bennett was asked if he'd been drinking that day, Bennett allegedly said “Not enough.” During their conversation, Bennett told the officer goodbye and started to walk away but again was told to stop.

A family member told the officer that Bennett had broken things inside the residence.

Bennett continued to mumble and almost fell to the ground, then resisted being handcuffed but with assistance from LPD officer Alan Jackson, Bennett was escorted to the ground, handcuffed and then placed in a patrol vehicle.

After the arrest, a search revealed a glass smoking device with residue in Bennett's front pocket. LPD Lieutenant Bobby Pierce, who was also assisting on the scene, reported a field test showed the pipe tested positive for methamphetamine. Bennett later allegedly admitted that he would have methamphetamine in his system.

Bennett reportedly mumbled and rambled on all the way to the Greene County Jail where he said more officers would be needed because he wasn't going to get out of the vehicle. Jail staff was advised of the situation but Bennett was released to their custody without any further incident.

Bennett was booked in at 10:15 PM. He was being held without bond pending court appearance.

A criminal case was filed earlier today against Bennett on preliminary charges of:

  • Possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony,

  • Public intoxication that endangers life, a Class B misdemeanor,

  • Resisting law enforcement - knowingly or intentionally forcibly resisting, a Class A misdemeanor, and

  • Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.