Report: Men Arrested for DUI, Marijuana at Taco Bell Drive-Thru

Police arrested two Lexington men last week who they say were drunk and high when they went through the drive-thru of Taco Bell, according to a Lexington Police Department report. 

Dillon Thomas Etheridge, 21, and Brandon Christopher Blackwell, 24, were both charged with posession of marijuana and possession of a schedule II narcotic. Etheridge was also charged with driving under the influence and possession of drug paraphenelia. 

Around 9:35 p.m. Dec. 19, a Taco Bell employee noticed that the driver of a vehicle in the drive-thru lane seemed drunk, according to the report. The employee alerted an officer who was in the parking lot of the restaurant at 1002 West Main Street.

When Etheridge pulled away from the final drive-thru window, the officer stopped him, according to the report. The officer noticed Etheridge had glossy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.

The officer asked Etheridge how much he had to drink, and he said he hadn't had anything, according to the report. The officer noticed an open beer can between Etheridge's legs and another open beer can in the center console.

While another officer was conducting field sobriety tests on Etheridge, the responding officer went to talk to the passenger, Blackwell, according to the report. When he asked Blackwell to step out of the vehicle, he could smell marijuana. 

The officer then noticed a clear plastic bag with a green leafy substance in the pocket of the driver's side door, according to the report. The officer searched the vehicle and found three orange capsules, which were identifed as Adderall pills, a schedule II controlled substance, according to the report. The pills were not in packaging, and neither Blackwell nor Etheridge had a prescription with them for the pills. 

Blackwell told officers that the pills were not his, according to the report. When officers asked Etheridge about the pills and the marijuana, he said he didn't know what they were talking about.

Officers arrested Blackwell and Etheridge. 

Etheridge provided a breath sample at the Lexington County Detention Center that measured a blood alcohol content of .08. 

On Dec. 20, Etheridge was released from the Lexington County Detention Center after posting bail totaling $7,117. Blackwell was released Dec. 21 after posting bail totaling $5,620.