Trooper David Flowers talks to Thomas Edward Schmidt of Shreveport.
Driving High, Married Couple Arrested for DWI, NEW WILLARD, July 14, 2011 - Shortly after 4 pm on July 13, 2011, a report of a white Chevy Blazer driving recklessly on US-59 South was reported to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Trooper David Flowers with the Texas Highway Patrol was dispatched to the area. Flowers spotted the Chevy Blazer south-bound and initiated a traffic stop on 59 South in New Willard. According to Flowers, the vehicle nearly hit another south-bound truck and swerved into the grassy median then veered back onto 59 South. The driver of the vehicle, Thomas Edward Schmidt, 50, of Shreveport, Louisiana appeared to be intoxicated. Trooper Flowers was soon joined by Deputy Billy Duke of the Polk County Sheriff's Office, and Trooper Darwon Evans.
Flowers conducted a field sobriety test in which Schmidt nearly fell down more than once. Thomas Schmidt was placed under arrest and charged with driving while intoxicated. Schmidt admitted to Trooper Flowers that he had already taken Xanax, Hydrocodone, and Soma prior to driving. Schmidt's wife, Juana was also intoxicated and was placed under arrest for public intoxication. A inventory of the vehicle rendered 5 bottles of pills. A rollback wrecker from LakeView Wrecker recovered Schmidt's vehicle and it will be stored in Livingston. The scene was cleared by about 5:30 pm.
Flowers explains and demonstrates to Schmidt proper instructions while Trooper Darwon Evans guards for oncoming traffic.
Flowers reaches and grabs Schmidt to keep Schmidt from falling.
After Schmidt performed poorly on a field sobriety test, Flowers placed him under arrest and charged him with driving while intoxicated.
Schmidt is escorted to a patrol unit to be driven to Polk County Jail.
Deputy Billy Duke placed Schmidt's wife, Juana, under arrest for public intoxication.
Driver Thomas Schmidt admitted to have taken three different types of medication before driving (Trooper Flowers reads each bottle).
Trooper Darwon Evans inventories pills found in Schmidt's vehicle.
Schmidt's vehicle was towed by LakeView Wrecker Service.
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