An 18-year-old Cordell man is facing up to twoand-a-half years in jail and fines of up to $2,500 following his arrest last week on drunk driving-related crimes. Parker Logan Johnson was arrested Dec. 3, 2019, and charged with misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol - aggravated, leaving the scene of an accident involving damage, and transporting an open container of an intoxicating beverage.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed in the case by Washita County Sheriff’s Deputy Shawn Pierce, he was dispatched to a roadside location on Highway 44 approximately three miles south of the Highway 152 junction just before 10:00 p.m. based upon a report of a possibly intoxicated driver. The reporting party, off-duty reserve deputy Jason Maxey, said he’d followed the vehicle down Highway 44 until he managed to stop it. Maxey secured the keys to the vehicle and waited for a uniformed deputy to arrive.
Upon his arrival, Deputy Pierce made contact with Maxey, who reported the vehicle had been traveling down Highway 44, going from ditch to ditch and had gone through the stop sign at Highway 152 at roughly 50 miles per hour, and had almost struck oncoming traffic.
Pierce proceeded to make contact with the driver, identified as Parker Logan Johnson. Pierce reported Johnson was impaired.
“I approached the driver’s door and asked Mr. Johnson what was going on,” Pierce wrote. “I could tell immediately that Mr. Johnson was having problems. His head was bowed and his speech was slurred, almost not understandable. I asked Mr. Johnson to exit his vehicle. Mr. Johnson fumbled with the door lock for a moment then opened the door. Mr. Johnson held onto the door in an attempt to hold himself.”
When Pierce asked him if he had been drinking, Johnson reportedly admitted to having had “a couple.” Pierce’s search of the vehicle turned up a can of beer in the center console, approximately half empty, another can containing beer, three additional empties in the back seat and another empty in the driver’s door. Deputy Maxey also collected additional beer cans from the passenger side of the vehicle.
Pierce also noted damage to the driver’s side mirror and a dent in the truck. He noted fresh paint coming off the vehicle and paint flakes present in the location of the dent.
At the same time, Burns Flat officer Joseph Newell was at the scene of a possible accident in the Burns Flat High School parking lot. Newell had located a mirror and piece of plastic chrome on the ground by a high line support cable. Further inspection showed white paint on the cable.
Johnson was transported to the Washita County Justice Center, where he agreed to take the state’s test. An observation period was started and Johnson was tested. His first result was 0.26 and the second was 0.25. Due to his age, both tests reported Johnson at more than 12 times the legal limit. He was booked on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol - aggravated and minor in possession of alcohol.
If convicted, Johnson could be sentenced to between 10 days and one year imprisonment and/ or a fine of up to $1,000 on the aggravated DUI charge, imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of up to $500 for leaving the scene of an accident, and imprisonment for up to six months and a fine of up to $500 for transporting an open container of intoxicating beverage.
Johnson was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond with special conditions including no consumption of drugs or alcohol, no operation of a motor vehicle, and house arrest. His case is scheduled for disposition Jan. 16, 2020, in district court.