NA man arrested after found drunk on the side of the road

Washington County Deputy Lucas Gray, along with Deputy Brad Naugle, was called to the intersection of U.S. 150 and Honey Creek Road, where a caller reported a man laying on the side of the highway. When Gray arrived, he said there were several drivers who had stopped to check on the man, later identified as Timothy Watkins, 47, New Albany.

Naugle asked Watkins what was going on and Watkins began cursing and told the officers who he was. Gray said he could smell alcohol coming from Watkins and Watkins told officers he had driven there from Terre Haute. He admitted to drinking beer and blew a .13 on a breathalizer test.

As he denied being injured, the officers handcuffed Watkins and told him he was under arrest for public intoxication. Watkins refused to sit in the police vehicle. As Naugle tried to place him in the vehicle, Watkins cursed and began trying to kick Nugle, screaming that he was “gonna beat your brains in,” and said he was going to put a pistol in Naugle’s face and blow his brins out. Disregarding warnings to stop kicking and shouting, Watkins was secured into the vehicle via seat belt and leg restraints.

After securing Watkins in the vehicle, a driver stopped and told Naugle a car had crashed about a mile west of where Watkins was found, on U.S. 150 in Orange County. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Watkins to be the owner of the vehicle.

During the book-in process, Watkins said, out loud and without being asked, “I crashed my car. I left the vehicle. I left it locked.”

Watkins was preliminarily charged with: intimidation, public intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting law enforcement.

Watkins is no stranger to the law. He has a felony record going back nearly 30 years, with charges of theft, criminal recklessness, possession of methamphetamine and marijuana, institutional criminal mischief, residential entry and battery by bodily waste at various times, mostly in Vigo County. Washington County Prosecutor Dustin Houchin filed a document detailing these charges on Dec. 19 to name Watkins a habitual offender.