Ruston Police officers responded to a call Sunday on East Tennessee Avenue regarding a single vehicle crash and a possibly intoxicated driver.
Officers noted that the driver, Eric Watson, 36, of Spearsville, had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath, which intensified as he spoke. Watson also had red, watery eyes and was unable to maintain his balance. Officers also were unable to understand some of the statements he was making.
Officers asked Watson to participate in standard field sobriety tests, but he refused. He stated he was not driving the vehicle. His girlfriend, the owner of the vehicle in the crash, arrived and said she let Watson have her vehicle for the night.
Watson was transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center, and he refused all paperwork relating to chemical testing and kept talking when officers attempted to read the form. He also refused to submit a breath sample. He was booked for DWI, fourth offense; careless operation; and driving with a suspended license. Bond was set at $35,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
