By John Howell
Batesville police charged a 30-year-old driver with felony DUI Friday after Patrolman Will Parrish noticed him driving at an unsafe speed in a residential area.

“The vehicle almost struck some children who were walking in the area” of Van Voris and Garson Streets when Parrish attempted to stop the vehicle shortly after 9 p.m., Saturday, June 13, his report states.

“The vehicle refused to stop for my lights and siren,” the report continues.

The driver led Parrish from Van Voris to Thomas to the Square and then to Eureka Street. By the time the vehicle turned left from Eureka onto Church Street, Lt. Kerry Pittman was approaching on Church Street toward Eureka.

“He was able to box the vehicle in when it turned off of Church and into the Westfaul Law Office parking lot,” Parrish stated.

“The driver exited the vehicle and was having lots of trouble standing up and had poor coordination,” according to the officer’s report. “Lt. Pittman and I initiated our body cameras and made contact with the subject.”

The driver initially resisted the officers who soon had him into custody.

En route to the police department for an Intoxilizer test, dispatchers advised the arresting officer that the subject had two prior driving under the influence arrests.

At the police station, the subject refused to provide a sample for the Intoxilizer test and he was transported to the Panola County jail.

The jail log states that Keri Letron Saffold, 30, 112 Eureka Street, Batesville was charged with DUI third offense, no driver’s license and careless driving.

He was also placed on hold for LeFlore County because of a bench warrant. He remains in jail.