Impaired driver arrested, claims person in ‘secret compartment’
A Hot Springs Village man was arrested Sunday morning on felony and misdemeanor charges after he was allegedly driving while impaired and told police there was “a Mexican in a secret compartment” underneath his truck seat.
Zachary Charles Johnson, 36, who lists a Tomino Way address, was taken into custody around 10:45 a.m. and charged with a felony count of possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to a chemical test and careless and pro- hibited driving.
He was being held on a $3,500 bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Hot Springs police responded to First United Methodist Church, 1100 Central Ave., regarding a property damage wreck involving a Dodge pickup truck that had exited the road and entered the parking lot of the church.
Garland County sheriff’s Deputy Richard Garrett, who was working off-duty at the church, had the driver, identified as Johnson, detained at the scene. Officers asked Johnson if he had taken any medications or drugs and he allegedly admitted to using meth earlier that morning.
Johnson also allegedly told officers that “a Mexican was in a secret compartment” under his truck seat and that he was being chased by them. He was reportedly displaying signs of paranoia and kept asking if his son was OK and “would not make sense while talking.” Officers called his family and determined nothing was wrong with his son.
Officer Cody Rollins noted Johnson’s pupils were “the size of pinpoints.” so he took him into custody. While in Rollins’ unit, Johnson reportedly could not hold himself upright and fell to the floorboard at one point. He began “sweating profusely” and breathing heavy and complained of pain in his chest and sides so LifeNet was called.
LifeNet personnel evaluated Johnson and determined he needed to be transported due to an elevated heart rate. He was taken to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs so no field sobriety tests could be conducted. A medical marijuana prescription bottle was reportedly found in his possession.
Garrett told police he was working security at the church and saw Johnson’s truck southbound on Central. He said it exited the roadway, rolled onto the grass, “spun a doughnut” and then Johnson jumped out while the truck was still in motion. He said Johnson ran toward him as the truck began rolling toward some parked cars in the lot.
Garrett ran to the truck, jumped in the cab and stopped it and then detained Johnson until police arrived.
In searching the truck, police allegedly found a pill container with meth residue and a metal cylinder attached to the truck keys also with meth residue.
Once at the detention center after his release from the hospital, Johnson was reportedly drowsy and unable to stay awake for longer than a minute or two while answering questions. He was finally able to provide two breath samples which registered 0.0% blood alcohol content.
Johnson reportedly consented to providing a urine sample, but despite drinking a full bottle of water he was unable to provide a sample after three separate attempts.