Man Arrested in Blue Bell with Blood Alcohol Content Three Times the Legal Limit

A Philadelphia man had a blood alcohol content more than three and a half times the legal limit when he was stopped on Sept. 2, police say.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, on Sept. 2 at approximately 1 a.m., a Whitpain Township Police officer was responding to a suspicious vehicle call at the .

While traveling north in the 1000 block of DeKalb Pike, approaching the Wawa, the officer observed the vehicle, a black Ford Focus,  allegedly cross the white fog line on the edge of the southbound lane of DeKalb Pike as the vehicle passed the officer in traffic and also swerve over the double yellow lines. The officer was able to turn the patrol car around and catch up to the vehicle near Township Line Rd.

The officer identified the driver as William John Ballantine, of Philadelphia, and while speaking with Ballantine, the officer allegedly noticed that he had chewing tobacco all over his lips, chin and mouth. 

The officer also allegedly detected an odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from Ballantine's person. According to court papers, Ballantine had glassy, blood shot eyes and spoke with slurred speech.

According to the report, the officer asked Ballantine to step to the rear of the vehicle to perform several field sobriety tests. When Ballantine walked to the rear of the vehicle the officer allegedly noticed Ballantine was unsteady on his feet. The officer explained and demonstrated several field sobriety tests to Ballantine, and according to police, Ballantine failed each test.

It was the officer's opinion in the report, that Ballantine was under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance to the point it rendered him incapable for safely operating a motor vehicle and placed Ballantine under arrest.

At approximately 1:15 a.m., the officer transported Ballantine to Mercy Suburban Hospital where Ballantine submitted to a chemical test of blood. On Sept. 25, the officer received the NMS lab report of Ballantine blood which revealed Ballantine's blood alcohol content was .29%.