On August 2, 2024, at 4:56 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of a vehicle in a field near the intersection of State Road 64 and State Road 325 West. Deputy Michael Bates was dispatched to the area, and upon arriving he observed a Black 2000 Nissan Pathfinder in a field adjacent to the roadway. At that point Deputy Bates located the driver 26 year old Nicholas Gardner of Fort Walton Beach, Florida and began an investigation into the incident. Mr. Gardner told Deputy Bates that he had fallen asleep while driving, but during the investigation Deputy Bates detected clues that Mr. Gardner may be under the influence of an unknown intoxicant. At that point he requested an other officer come to the scene as he began a roadside DUI investigation. During the investigation Sgt. Loren Barchett and his K9 partner Duke performed a free air search around the vehicle with Duke indicating that there was illegal drugs inside the vehicle. After a brief search of the vehicle twenty three MDMA (Ecstasy) pills and one Hydrocodone pill were discovered. Once the investigation was completed Deputy Bates placed Mr. Gardner into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Possession of a Schedule 1 drug.
Assisting Deputy Bates in his investigation were Sgt. Loren Barchett and his K9 partner Duke. Also assisting on scene were Deputies Michael Owens and Shawn Holmes.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
