A sheriff’s deputy in West Virginia reportedly saw a man driving suspiciously in Barbour County. The deputy pulled the driver over near Philip Barbour High School in Phillipi and made an unusual discovery. The driver, 43-year-old James Clark, reportedly told deputies he worked for Child Protective Services and was taking a 2-year-old child to her mother. Clark apparently slurred his words, which led to field sobriety and breathalyzer tests. Concerned that Clark was under the influence of drugs, deputies arrested him. His family, however, claims this is all a big mistake and wants his name cleared.
According to court documents obtained by WDTV, deputies from the Barbour County Sheriff’s Office pulled Clark over after he allegedly swerved and nearly hit another vehicle. When deputies approached, they reportedly observed Clark slurring his words. But here’s where things took a strange turn. The man allegedly failed his sobriety test, but blew a 0.00 on the preliminary breath test. Clark denied being under the influence of illegal drugs and told deputies he’d only taken his regular daily medications, Suboxone and Neurontin.
Clark reportedly told deputies he was taking the 2-year-old in the back seat to her mother as part of a CPS transfer. WDTV reported that Clark worked as a contract employee for CPS, not for the state, per West Virginia Department of Human Services officials. Police took him to Broaddus Hospital for a blood draw. He now faces charges of child neglect, creating risk of injury, and DUI with a minor.
Clark’s family claims this is all a big misunderstanding. His parents, Jimmy and Tina Clark, posted about their son on Facebook. The couple acknowledged that Clark had drug problems in the past but say he moved on and has found Jesus. They find the allegations hurtful and wrong.
“James volunteered the information about his medication and so the cop charged him with child endangerment because James has been working with cops taking kids and parents to visitations and drug screenings. James loves kids and would never put anyone in danger,” his father wrote.
“Anyone that knows people on drugs knows when someone is high by looking at them. Their eyes are the first thing and looking at this you know he isn’t high at all,” he added. “The report said that he slurred his words but if you know James he gets nervous when talking to people he doesn’t know. His his test came back 0.00 ado where is the dui part come in.”
Thus far, police have not released the results of Clark’s blood test. If what his father said is true, perhaps this is all just a big misunderstanding. But if it’s not, we’re thankful that the innocent 2-year-old child stayed safe in Clark’s care.
