W’burg man found passed out behind the wheel arrested

A Williamsburg man was arrested for DUI on Independence Day after police allegedly found him passed out in his vehicle.

About 7:34 p.m., Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird observed Prince Branham, 54, of Mountain View Drive, sitting at the stop sign on Seventh Street and passed out at the wheel of his 1993 white Ford truck, according to Branham’s arrest citation.

At the time, the vehicle was running, and Branham was awoken to turn off the vehicle, Williamsburg Police Officer Greg Rhoades wrote on the arrest citation.

When Branham allegedly tried to leave, Bird reached into the truck and turned it off. Police then pulled Branham out of the vehicle, according to his arrest citation.

Branham allegedly couldn’t complete at least one field sobriety test, and told police that he had drunk two beers and took a full Suboxone strip earlier in the day, Rhoades wrote.

Rhoades charged Branham with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol/drugs, first-degree disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

Branham was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center but was released from custody prior to his scheduled arraignment Thursday in Whitley District Court.

Judge Fred White ordered a pretrial suspension of Branham’s driver’s license for failure to take an alcohol concentration or substance test, according to court records.

His arrest citation indicated that he allegedly refused a blood test.

Williamsburg Police Sgt. Brandon White assisted with the investigation.