Man Jailed For DUI After Admitting To Smoking Synthetic Marijuana

A driver weaving on Hwy. 27 is now in jail after admitting to using synthetic marijuana Saturday, according to Summerville Police reports.

Other motorists started reporting to 911 around 9:15 p.m. that a dark-colored PT Cruiser was driving erratically. The car was weaving across lanes and the driver was using the brakes a lot. Officer Gary Pruitt spotted the vehicle on the north end of Summerville and followed it.

“I drove behind the vehicle for a short period of time. During the time, the vehicle was passing the Earle Rainwater Funeral Home I observed the PT Cruiser swerve from the outside lane, partially into the inside lane,” Officer Pruitt stated.

The officer stopped the driver and asked 44-year-old Shawn Basil Collins, of Rome, why he was swerving.

“I observed Mr. Collins speech to be extremely slurred, slow and mumbled. . . ” Officer Pruitt stated.

Officers started doing field sobriety tests immediately. But they had to stop the tests because cops were afraid that Collins might fall.

Collins told officers that he didn’t use drugs, but he “smoked a little weed this morning.” He later clarified it was synthetic marijuana.

Cops found a small plastic bag of synthetic drugs.

“On the back side of the baggie, it indicates it is not to be used while operating a motor vehicle,” Pruitt stated.

Collins was arrested for DUI, failure to maintain a single lane and possession of an open container of alcohol, according to an incident report.