Report: Man Drinking in Public Hid Beer in To-Go Cup

Police arrested a Leesville man who they say was drinking at Gibson Pond Park Sunday night. 

Jeremy Rhett Hatchell, 28, was charged with drinking in public and public intoxication. 

A Lexington Police officer who was patrolling the area just after 11 p.m. saw Hatchell and two females standing next to a a car parked near the dam, according to an incident report. As he was driving up, the officer saw Hatchell quickly walk over to the trash can and throw away a white cup. 

The officer became suspicious, so he asked Hatchell and the two females for their IDs, according to the report. The officer could smell alcohol on Hatchell and see that his eyes were blood-shot. 

When the officer checked the trash can, he found a Copper River Grill cup with a 12-ounce Busch Ice beer inside, according to the report. Hatchell admitted he did throw the cup in the trash can when he saw the officer coming.

Hatchell was arrested and transported to the Lexington County Detention Center.