A rural Bloomfield man whose license was suspended got into his truck and followed an investigator from the prosecutor’s office out his driveway and onto the highway. The investigator noticed and now he’s facing a misdemeanor.

Robert D. Purtlebaugh II, 45, Bloomfield, has been summoned to appear in Greene Superior Court in November for an initial hearing on a charge of driving while suspended, a knowing violation with a prior conviction within 10 years, a Class A misdemeanor.

The charge came about due to Purtlebaugh’s alleged behavior after a case manager from Greene County DCS (Department of Child Services) and an investigator from the prosecutor’s office visited Purtlebaugh’s residence in late September.

Greene County Prosecutor’s Investigator Julie Criger was conducting an investigation with a DCS family case manager on Monday, September 28, at Purtlebaugh’s residence on East State Road 58, Bloomfield. The two had gone there to speak to a child and ended up going there twice that day. Both times they were there, Purtlebaugh was there and so was a red Chevrolet truck that was parked in the drive.

Investigator Criger said that when they left the second time, Purtlebaugh got into the truck and followed the two female officers out of the driveway then followed them on the highway. When they passed Hasler Junction on SR 58, Purtlebaugh pulled into the parking lot of Hasler Junction.

Investigator Criger said that due to Purtlebaugh’s following them out of the driveway and his erratic behavior, she checked records to see if he had any outstanding warrants. He did not, but she discovered his driving status was suspended. Purtlebaugh had a judgment on September 25, 2019, against him for driving while suspended.

On October 1, Investigator Criger went to Hasler’s Junction and obtained video that showed Purtlebaugh driving his red Chevy truck into the lot then entering the store.

On October 14, the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office filed a case against Purtlebaugh and a summons was issued ordering him to appear in court on November 19.