A Vian man is charged with battery/assault and battery on a police officer and driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol after he was reportedly refused alcohol at a Vian convenience store.
Alyn M. Faircloth, 70, was charged on Sept. 24 in Sequoyah County District Court and received a $10,000 bond. He is now set to appear for a Nov. 6 felony disposition docket with Associate District Judge Kyle Waters, according to court records.
Vian Police officer Robert Rice said he was dispatched to the Snack Mart convenience store after Faircloth allegedly threatened to harm employees and customers after being refused alcohol. The officer saw Faircloth pull out of the store and got behind him, watching as Faircloth reportedly swerved on and off the roadway, before conducting a traffic stop.
Rice said Faircloth had an odor of alcohol on his breath and emitting from inside the vehicle, and when asked if he’d been drinking, he reportedly admitted to doing so. Faircloth stated he was not drunk but had drank two beers, according to the probable cause affidavit, before agreeing to a battery of sobriety tests.
Rice reported while conducting the tests that Faircloth was slurring and swaying, so he ended them in fear that Faircloth would fall over.
While conducting an inventory of Faircloth’s vehicle, the officer found a small kitten and placed it in his air conditioned unit, due to the kitten being overheated. It was then turned over to the town of Vian for holding until a shelter was available.
Faircloth agreed to a blood draw but while en route to the hospital, he reportedly made several derogatory slurs toward the officer, and allegedly threatened to “beat” him. Rice reported that Faircloth continued to make threatening statements toward him while at the hospital.
As a nurse was drawing Faircloth’s blood, he reportedly used a closed fist and struck the officer in the knee. After being told not to do it again, Faircloth reportedly did it a second time and was informed he would be charged. He attempted to strike Rice a third time but stopped when he was told to do so.
At the Sequoyah County Detention Center, Faircloth allegedly made a comment about fighting and pushed the officer against the wall. Rice was then forced to use a technique to take Faircloth into custody with the help of jail staff.