A Watertown man was pulled over for a non-working tail light and after the stop officers found a lot more as the driver was on probation, intoxicated, illegally in possession of a handgun, and had illegal drugs in his possession including methamphetamine and ecstasy plus some pills believed to be hydrocodone.

Robert Jacob Hardison, 27, of Watertown, is charged with driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license, possession of a handgun while under the influence, tampering with evidence, and possession of methamphetamine and Schedule I, II, and VI drugs with intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell.

According to DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray, on Thursday, Jan. 25, a deputy stopped a vehicle on Smith Road for a non-working tail light. The officer spoke with the driver, Hardison, and detected an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Hardison admitted to having used marijuana and hydrocodone earlier in the day.

He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He also submitted to implied consent (blood test). During the investigation the officer learned that Hardison is on probation for a previous offense and that his license was suspended on Oct. 14, 2017 for failure to show proof of insurance and that he had continued to drive even after receiving a citation in Wilson County for driving on a suspended license.

A search of Hardison’s vehicle turned up a Jennings .22 caliber handgun which is illegal since Hardison was under the influence at the time.

Drugs were also found in the car including six green pills believed to be ecstasy and three separate baggies of a crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine, which were in a metal tin on the driver’s side floorboard along with scales and separate baggies.

While searching Hardison, the deputy found a white pill believed to be hydrocodone. After being placed in custody and seated in the back of the deputy’s patrol car, Hardison pulled a silver container from the area of his crotch and put several pills from that container into his mouth and into the seat of the car, trying to dispose of them.

Hardison admitted to officers he had other drugs in his home, and they conducted a probation search of the residence with consent and found 37.19 grams of a leafy substance believed to be marijuana along another baggie of meth and more scales and baggies.

The total weight of all four baggies of meth found during this investigation totaled 3.6 grams.

His bond is $73,000 and his court date is Thursday, Feb. 15.