A Texas man was arrested in Atoka on Monday after a traffic stop revealed he was operating a vehicle without a valid driver's license.
According to a report by Atoka Police Patrolman Grady Blackwood, the incident occurred at approximately 3:33 PM. While on routine patrol near South Mississippi Avenue, Patrolman Blackwood observed a red Toyota Camry with a Texas license plate that was unreadable from 50 feet away. The driver also allegedly made an improper stop at the traffic light at Court Street by stopping past the white line.
Patrolman Blackwood initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of South Mississippi Avenue and West 9th Street, and the driver pulled into a parking lot. The driver, identified as Jer-maine Lewis Garner of Fort Worth, Texas, was advised of the reason for the stop and asked to provide his driver's license and insurance information.
After initially refusing, Garner eventually provided a Texas identification card but did not have proof of insurance. When asked if his driver's license was valid, Garner reportedly stated that it was not. Garner was then asked to step out of the vehicle, and a search incident to arrest was conducted before he was placed in handcuffs. He was informed that he was under arrest for operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver's license.
The vehicle was impounded by Mullins Wrecker Service after an inventory was conducted. Garner was transported to the Atoka County Jail for booking without further incident. He was booked on Atoka Municipal charges of operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver's license, improper stopping in a roadway, and no valid security verification form. He also received a written warning for improper tag display.
