Daniel Prince
Man struck utility pole on Thompson Boulevard
Sgt. David Lee was dispatched to Thompson Boulevard just outside the Public Safety Department on Wednesday for a traffic accident. A 2019 Toyota pickup truck had struck a utility pole in front of Public Safety. Sgt. Lee spoke to Cpl. Jeff Wright, who was on scene, and Wright said he could not smell any alcohol on the driver, but the driver was not acting right.
The driver was identified as 36-year-old Daniel Jenkins of Union. Lee conducted a field sobriety test on Jenkins, and Lee determined that Jenkins was not under the influence of anything. Cpl. Wright checked the truck for the driver’s ID and proof of insurance and registration, and he advised that Sgt. Lee needed to look inside the truck between the seat and center console. Lee saw a plastic baggy that is usually used to put drugs in. Lee saw that the bag contained a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. Lee told Wright to place Jenkins in handcuffs. Lee searched the rest of the vehicle and found another bag under the driver’s seat in an eyeglass case. It also contained a crystal-like substance believed to be meth.
Lee informed Jenkins that he was under arrest. He read Jenkins his rights, and Jenkins stated he would talk to Lee. He stated that the meth was his, and that he was about to throw it away because he was trying to quit. Jenkins was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, because the meth weighed more than 1 gram, driving too fast for conditions, and driving with an expired vehicle tag, as the tag had expired at the end of April. The City of Union Utility Department fixed the utility pole.