A 28 year old Summerville man has managed to gather a number of charges as proof that it is never a good idea to combine drinking and driving. 

Sheriff's Office Deputy Nick Robinson was recently dispatched to the Mahan Road area of Summerville in regard to reports that a red Nissan Pathfinder was hitting mailboxes while traveling toward Highway 48.

Corporal Wendell Flood, who was also in that area, saw a vehicle matching that description in the parking lot of the convenience store, at the intersection of Mahan Road and 48; as the vehicle pulled out and headed northbound on Mahan Deputy Robinson noticed that a brake light was out on the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop just after 9:30pm.

According to the report, the driver's speech was slurred and there was also a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle. 

The driver, identified as Joel Mansfield Buttram III, after being asked to exit the vehicle was asked to take part in field sobriety tests which he readily agreed to, however he later came to a point where he refused further testing, and also refused to allow a blood sample to be taken after first saying “yes.”

Buttram was determined to be under the influence, and was transported to the Chattooga County Jail without incident charged with DUI/Alcohol, Failure to Maintain Lane and other offenses.

His vehicle was turned over to his wife at the scene.