Flashing blue lights lit up the night on Highway. 70, in front of Pizza Hut last Tuesday night as members from local and state law enforcement agencies stopped an intoxicated driver who crossed into oncoming traffic, possibly passing out at the wheel. Thomas Bruce Greene, of Liberty, was arrested by Trooper Dewaine Jennings and charged with multiple offenses after what could have been a far worse situation.
Trooper Jennings was dispatched to a property damage crash on Highway 70 West, West Broad Street, where he made contact with Smithville Police Officer Bradley Tatrow. Officer Tatrow advised Trooper Jennings that he had received a call of a possible drunk driver. Tatrow stated that after arriving he made contact with the vehicle, a 1987 Chevrolet pickup, driven by Greene. 
Green, who was stopped at the light on South Congress Blvd., at the intersection of Highway 56 and Highway 70, was said to have sat through multiple signal-light changes and was yelling at other drivers. He made a left-hand turn onto Hwy. 70 West, where he crossed into the turning lane and then into the east-bound lanes.
Officer Tatrow attempted to back up his patrol car to avoid impact with Greene’s vehicle, but he continued coming at him. Officer Tatrow observed traffic coming up from behind him so he stopped. At this point, Greene’s truck made impact with Officer Tatrow’s patrol car. Several city and county officers responded, pinning Greene’s vehicle between the patrol cars. Greene was placed in the back of a sheriff’s patrol car where Trooper Jennings approached him and smelled a strong odor of alcohol. When asked if he had been drinking, Greene admitted to Trooper Jennings that he was intoxicated and later admitted to smoking marjuana. He also told the trooper that he had just been released from rehab and was on his way to an AA meeting.
Greene was led to the front of Trooper Jenning’s patrol car and asked to perform field sobriety tasks.
“No,” said Green, “I can’t do those if I were sober.” Greene was so intoxicated that he could not stand on his on and when officer removed their hands from him, he would nearly fell over. Greene was placed under arrest. He did submit to a blood alcohol test at which time he was taken to DeKalb Community Hospital ER for blood work.
A computer check showed Greene’s driver’s license to be suspended out of Georgia for second-offense DUI. He was also wanted out of Florida.
Greene was arrested and charged with third-offense DUI, driving with a suspended driver’s license and failure to exercise due care. His bond was set at $7,500, and he is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 10, 2013.