Editor’s note: It is not often a report is found where all parties involved are as compassionate as in this one. From the initial call from a civilian who was worried about the safety of other people, to the responding officer who went above and beyond for the accused to ensure his safety and that of his vehicle’s, and finally, the actions of the Captain D’s manager, everyone was kind.  The accused had a good attitude with the officer throughout the entirety of their interaction and this probably went a long way for him. We take you now to the incident which occurred  with one Mr. William Thomas on July 2, 2023.

On July 2, 2023 City units were dispatched to the area of Captain D’s for a call. Upon arrival an officer spoke with the complainants who stated a white Acura was all over the roadway and almost struck a mail box on Sparta Hwy. They advised the male went into Captain D’s wearing a white shirt and shorts. The officer made contact with the man inside the restaurant and identified him as 65 year-old William Thomas. Mr. Thomas was sitting at a booth eating a bowl of macaroni and cheese and drinking a Coke. While speaking with Mr. Thomas the officer observed he appeared intoxicated, had red watery eyes, and had the odor of  alcohol emitting  from his person. The officer asked Mr. Thomas about being intoxicated and how much alcohol he had consumed and Mr. Thomas replied “too much to be driving.” The officer asked Mr. Thomas to step outside and speak with him. Mr. Thomas exited the booth leaving behind his macaroni and cheese and Coke. 

Mr. Thomas walked outside the restaurant nearly falling to the ground so the officer assisted him with standing to ensure he did not fall and hurt himself. The officer continued to speak with Mr. Thomas who consented to the officer rolling up his windows due to the rain entering in to the vehicle. The officer also ensured Mr. Thomas’s vehicle doors were locked for safe keeping once the windows were up. He then explained to Mr. Thomas he was going to be placed under arrest for public intoxication and Mr. Thomas stated he completely understood why. Mr. Thomas expressed his apologies multiples times for being so intoxicated in public.

The officer placed him in the rear passenger side of his patrol vehicle and placed double locked handcuffs upon his wrist.  He then went back into the restaurant of Captain D’s and spoke with the manager and explained the situation to her.  She stated his vehicle was okay to be left in the parking lot and it would not be towed. The manager then gave the officer another receipt for the purchase of the macaroni and cheese and Coke and stated Mr. Thomas was welcome to come back when he bonded out of jail to get another fresh bowl of Captain D’s macaroni and cheese and another soda.

The officer gave Mr. Thomas his receipt for his recent purchase at Captain D’s and explained he was able to come back and get a fresh bowl of Captain D’s macaroni and cheese and another soda and he placed the receipt in his front right pocket. He then transported Mr. Thomas to intake where they attempted to book him in but were unable to do so due to the level of intoxication and the risk of him falling. Mr. Thomas was given a jail food tray and placed in a cell and served a copy of his warrant.