Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NATCHEZ — A Natchez man was arrested on May 14 after being found asleep in his vehicle in the middle of the road.

Richard “Dick” Thompson, 78, of 169 Homochitto St., was charged with disorderly conduct, failure to comply, and indecent exposure for urinating in public.

Natchez Police Chief Cal Green said her department received a call at 10:10 p.m. on May 13 reporting that a motorist needed assistance at the intersection of Homochitto Street and John R. Junkin Drive.

When the Natchez Police officer arrived, he found a 2017 Ford truck running in the roadway. The arrest report lists no license plate number for the truck, and the officer said the driver appeared to be asleep, Green said.

She said the officer was able to knock on the driver’s window and the driver woke up and rolled down his window. She said the officer asked the driver if he was OK.

“(Thompson) said he didn’t know if he was OK and asked the officer to tell him,” Green said. “The officer told him he was sitting at the intersection, asleep.”

She said the officer asked Thompson for his license and Thompson told the officer he was trying to find it. “He went through apps on his phone while trying to find the license,” Green said.

The officer reported that Thompson said he needed to urinate while they were talking.

“The officer went to his (vehicle) to give the supervisor a call to seek assistance. He looked up to see Mr. Thompson had gotten out of his vehicle and was basically standing in the roadway urinating,” Green said. She said Thompson was obstructing the flow of traffic.

“When the officer told him (Thompson) he was under arrest, he was trying to get back in his vehicle and told the officer he was not under arrest,” Green said.

The officer was able to get one handcuff on Thompson, “but he placed his other hand on his steering wheel and stood firm and continued to try to get back into his vehicle.”

The officer waited on assistance and when another officer arrived, they were able to take Thompson into custody. Thompson was transported to the Natchez Police Department and the 2017 Ford was towed.

She said Thompson was not given a sobriety test. He was released on his own recognizance. Thompson’s arraignment is set for 9 a.m. on Wednesday at Natchez Municipal Court at which he is expected to enter a plea.