Trooper Seamans Gets His Man, CLEVELAND, October 22, 2012 - David Matthew Dillon, 34, of Big Sandy, the man who was pulled over, cited for having an endangered snake in the bed of his truck, was arrested for suspicion of DWI, then weasled out of the cop car and got away has been caught by the same trooper who placed him under arrest just a little over a day earlier. Trooper Chad Seamans got his man when he located Dillon's place of employment in Cleveland (Union Tank Car). According to Seamans, he walked in and introduced himself, and explained to Dillon's employers what had happened. Dillon was on the job and was brought to the office, where Seamans placed Dillon under arrest for driving while intoxicated (3rd or more which is a felony) and escape while arrested, confined felony. According to Seamans, Dillon denied that it was himself that was driving while intoxicated with a snake in the back of his truck, and that it wasn't him who was arrested and weasled out. Dillon was driven to Polk County Jail (by Trooper Seamans) and booked into Polk County Jail.
Original Story Below
Narcotics Detective, Vance Berry listens to David Dillon of Big Sandy.
Alleged Intoxicated Driver Escapes Police Car, LIVINGSTON, October 22, 2012 - At approximately 9:30 pm on October 20, 2012, narcotics investigator Vance Berry with the Polk County Sheriff's Office stopped an older model Dodge pickup that was driving east-bound on US-190 East. The truck was driven by David Dillon, 34, of Big Sandy. Detective Berry suspected intoxication and summoned a Trooper. Additionally, Berry spotted a 5 ft. long dead rattle snake in the bed of Dillon's truck. Berry was quickly backed up by Officers Dallas Early and Kaleb Barker, both with Livingston PD. Berry also summoned Game Wardens Ryan Hall and Brandon Mosley to check out the snake. Wardens Hall and Mosley arrived and as it turns out, the snake was 5 ft. long and was a timber rattler. Hall cited Dillon for possession of a threatened species. A short time later, Trooper Chad Seamans arrived and conducted a field sobriety test on Dillon. Seamans placed Dillon under arrest for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Dillon has already been charged 4 previous times with DWI. Trooper Seamans cuffed Dillon and loaded Dillon into his patrol unit. As proper protocol, Trooper Seamans went back to Dillon’s truck to conduct an inventory of the vehicle and its contents. An inventory takes a minimum of 10 minutes and often more time. After inventorying the truck, Seamans returned to his unit only to find that Dillon possibly slipped his cuffs to the front and escaped from the car (apparently into the woods on the same side of the road). A search of the area began immediately and a police canine was summoned. Sergeant Howard Smith with the Polk County Sheriff's Office arrived and the dog led the officers into the woods, however, Dillon was not found. At time of press, David Dillon is still at large. Dillon’s truck was recovered by a rollback wrecker from Ken's Towing and stored at Pollock's Body Shop in Livingston.
Berry was quickly backed up by Officers Dallas Early and Kaleb Barker with Livingston PD (Officer Barker pictured in foreground).
Game Wardens, Brandon Mosley (left) and Ryan Hall arrived to check out the snake in the back of Dillon's pickup.
Mosley pulled a 5 ft. long timber rattler out of Dillon's pickup...
...and confiscated the snake which is on the threatened species list.
Hall cited Dillon for possession of a threatened species.
Trooper Chad Seamans conducted a field sobriety test and placed Dillon under arrest for suspicion of driving while intoxicated (5th time for Dillon).
Dillon was loaded into the front seat of Seamans' patrol unit.
Sergeant Howard Smith with the local Sheriff's Office brought a canine to help find the now escaped David Dillon. Dillon was not found.
Dillon's vehicle was recovered by Ken's Towing (Houdini pictured).
Mixi was on the job for PCT.com.
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