A Columbus man is facing charges, including drunk driving and battery, after an incident early Wednesday morning. Judy Jackson, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, says that just before 3 a.m., Deputy Teancum Clark was dispatched to County Road 450 South in reference to a possible drunk driver.

Deputy Clark reported seeing a pickup truck turn into a convenience store parking lot. He watched the driver, who he says appeared to be intoxicated, walk into the store. Deputy Clark also says that he could smell alcohol on the driver, identified as 60-year-old Mark Winters.

Deputies say that an open alcoholic beverage was found inside of Winter’s truck. They also reportedly found beer and soda cans poked with holes containing green leafy substances, burnt residue and a clear plastic wrapper also containing a green leafy substance.

Jackson says that Winters was taken to Columbus Regional Health for medical clearance where he became verbally abusive to CRH staff and spat on Deputy Clark. Once medically cleared, Winters was booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of:

Public Intoxication;
Operating a vehicle while Intoxicated;
Battery by Bodily Waste; and
Battery on Law Enforcement by Bodily Waste

Authorities say that Winters remains behind bars in lieu of $34,500 bond.