Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Erratic driving sends Texas man to county jail

A 32-year-old Texas man has found himself in a world of trouble in Nevada County.

According to court records, Patrick Grayson, of Malakoff, Texas, has been charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, refusing to submit to a chemical test, possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Arkansas State Police Trooper Darren Neal, on Tuesday, June 5, received a call from the Clark County Sheriff's Office concerning a green Dodge pickup westbound on Interstate 30 with the driver possibly intoxicated.

According to the CCSO reports, the driver had struck several orange barrels in construction zones on I-30.

Neal managed to stop the truck at the 47= mile marker around 7:10 a.m., roughly 10 minutes after getting the initial call.

The driver, Grayson appeared to be confused, nervous and shaking, according to the report. Neal also smelled the odor of burnt marijuana in the vehicle.

Grayson said a friend had smoked marijuana in his truck earlier. He was then told the truck would have to be searched.

Grayson said there was a pipe under the truck console. He got it, and a plastic bag containing a white powdery substance believed to be methamphetamine from a sunglass holder in the overhead console.

Neal administered a field sobriety test, Grayson failed. He was then arrested and taken to the Nevada County jail, where he refused to submit to a chemical test.

His bond was set at $10,000.

Each of the possession charges are a class C felonies, with a sentence from 3-10 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and a fine up to $10,000, each.

Grayson's refusing to submit to a chemical test is a misdemeanor, and he could lose his driver's license for 180 days.

Operating a vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance can net Grayson a year in jail and a fine from $150 to $1,000.