A single vehicle accident in the area of Base Road and County Road 1125 W in Linton resulted in the April 5 arrest of a 46-year-old Linton man on alcohol-related charges.

Christopher Michael Wathen was arrested by Greene County Sheriff’s Department Deputy James Carpenter on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person and operating a vehicle while intoxicated-first offense and no endangerment. 

At 1:27 p.m. on April 5, Deputy Carpenter was dispatched to the area of Base Road and County Road 1125 West. While enroute, Greene County Sheriff's Deputy Bruce Porter arrived on scene. Deputy Porter advised the vehicle was on its passenger side and on a guardrail. Deputy Porter advised dispatch the driver — later identified as Wathen — was unable to get out of the vehicle. Deputy Carpenter arrived on scene at approximately 1:38 p.m. and observed Wathen’s GMC Acadia on the passenger side on the south side of Base Road.

In order to get Wathen out of the vehicle, the Linton Fire Department had to cut out the windshield. According to the probable cause affidavit written by Deputy Carpenter, fire personnel indicated they could smell on odor of alcohol coming from Wathen’s breath.  

Once out of the vehicle, Deputy Carpenter wrote Wathen had poor balance and slurred speech. When he began to speak, Carpenter wrote he could smell an odor of alcoholic beverage coming from Wathen’s breath. When asked if he had consumed any alcoholic beverages, Wathen allegedly said he’d had a couple of Twisted Iced Teas. 

Wathen refused a standardized field sobriety test as well as a chemical test. At that time, Wathen was informed a search warrant would be applied for in order to obtain a blood sample. At approximately 3:14 p.m., according to the probable cause, a search warrant was approved by Greene Superior Court Judge Dena Martin. Wathen was transported to Greene County General Hospital for a blood draw, results pending. 

Wathen was then transported to Greene County Jail where his bond was set at $4,000 surety with 10% cash allowed. He was released later the same day after posting $400. 

He is facing charges of: 

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A Misdemeanor, and 

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated-first offense and no endangerment, a Class C Misdemeanor