John Willoughby
reporter2@greenepublishing.com
A man under the influence of drugs was arrested on drug-related charges on Tuesday, Sept. 22, after his vehicle was stopped in the roadway at a busy Madison intersection, blocking traffic. Madison Police Department (MPD) Patrolman S. Newman reports that around 5:35 p.m., he was dispatched to the intersection of Base Street and Duval Avenue where traffic was blocked by an individual who appeared to be sleeping behind the wheel, according to the report.
Upon arrival, he approached the black Chevrolet truck running with "nearly black windows." The report continues: "On approach of the vehicle, I observed what appeared to be a hat facing upward. I attempted to open the driver door to no avail. I was then able to make contact through a crack in the passenger window. The driver, identified as William Padilla (age 38, of Tallahassee) appeared to be surprised of my presence. I advised Padilla that he has been asleep in the roadway for several minutes and asked him if he was okay to pull the vehicle into the parking lot."
Ptl. Newman followed to a nearby parking lot and asked Padilla to step out of the vehicle. While in the vehicle's doorway speaking to the driver, Ptl. Newman detected the odor of marijuana within the vehicle. Upon being questioned, Padilla confirmed he had a small amount in his pocket – a clear plastic bag of a green leafy substance weighing approximately 3.76 grams.
During a probable cause search of the vehicle, the MPD officer located a used needle on the driver's floor board of the vehicle and an additional needle in the center console of the vehicle. Ptl. Newman spoke with Padilla who admitted to being a user and having track marks from injections sometimes. He added, however, that he was unaware of why there would be needles located in his vehicle.
Ptl. Newman returned to the subject vehicle were he observed a small binder between the windshield and dashboard. Within the dashboard was a needle and two bags of a white crystal substance, weighing a combined 1.52 grams. The report states that based on Ptl. Newman's training and experience, the substance was identified as methamphetamine but will be sent to a lab for confirmation.
Padilla was placed under arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from the Madison County Jail on Wednesday, Sept. 23.