The officer knew the man as Roger Stidham, 59, and the report indicated he had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath with bloodshot, glazed eyes and speaking with slurred speech. A bottle in the cup holder on the bicycle was found to contain beer. Stidham suffered a leg injury and was taken to McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital by the Oxford Fire Department.
The officer also went to the hospital, where he told Stidham he was going to be charged with operation a vehicle intoxicated and possession of an open container.
The report notes the officer told him he was clearly drunk but Stidham insisted he was not drunk, but intoxicated.
He agreed to a blood test as long as they did not prick the same finger as nurses had previously. He was treated and released by the hospital and the officer completed the paperwork for the charges, which included asking him his eye color to which he responded, “red, white and blue.” The officer took that as a patriotic reference but Stidham told him they were blue, but bloodshot due to alcohol consumption.
He was taken to his residence and was asked to sign the citations which he insisted on doing with an “X” because his lawyer was not present.
His blood test was sent to the lab for analysis and his bike impounded.
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