Erratic acting man arrested on public intoxication charge

HELTONVILLE – A Bloomington man was arrested on Tuesday, February 27th after Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Lonnie Johnson investigated a call about a suspicious male on Pleasant Run Road.

When Capt. Johnson arrived at 3:38 p.m. he was told that a male had been released from Transitions and was last seen headed towards GilGal Road. The male was then seen near the Heltonville store waving his arms around and yelling and was possibly under the influence.

Mack Morris

Capt. Johnson located 35-year-old Mack Morris in the roadway about 30 yards from the store acting erratically.

Capt. Johnson said Morris appeared to be on meth or some other substance and his behavior was a safety risk to himself and any driver on the roadway. He said he had been at Transitions but left within a few hours.

Morris requested to be transported to the Men’s Warming Shelter on H Street.

Once in the police vehicle, Morris became belligerent and wanted to be taken back to Transitions.

Capt. Johnson offered to take Morris to the hospital for a medical evaluation. But he kept requesting to be released from the police car.

Capt. Johnson stopped his police vehicle at 5th and J Street in an attempt to calm Morris. He then called Transitions who refused to take Morris because he had threatened the staff and kicked doors. Transitions said Morris had been court ordered to Transistions but refused to stay. The staff at Transitions had contacted Morris’ probation officer and she was going to file a petition to revoke his probation.

Morris continued to be agitated, ripping his shirt off and waving his arms around. He was then transported to the Lawrence County Jail on a charge of public intoxication.