Rexburg man arrested for DUI after he was found unconscious behind wheel twice
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REXBURG — A former probation officer has been found unconscious and under the influence of narcotics behind the wheel of a car at least twice in recent weeks, according to court records.
Benjamin Harris, 37, is now facing two misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence after police received complaints about Harris’ driving, and they discovered Harris unconscious and unresponsive in his vehicle.
Stopped in the exit
The most recent incident was Monday, when the Madison County Sheriff’s received a report of a blue Ford pickup truck that could not maintain its lane. Police later identified the driver as Harris.
A deputy later found the pickup at the U.S. 20 333 northbound exit. Court documents show that the truck was in the left turn lane, but missed several opportunities to turn at the stop sign where the offramp intersects with Main Street. After several minutes the deputy approached Harris’ truck and discovered he was unconscious.
The deputy reported that Harris’s face was pale yellow, and he was sweating profusely.
Harris was transported to the hospital by ambulance and later sedated and put on a ventilator due to his irregular breathing and inability to maintain consciousness, according to court records.
In Harris’ truck, law enforcement found an empty prescription bottle of Clonazepam, a drug used to treat seizures, panic disorder and anxiety. The prescription was filled Oct. 7.
Text messages on Harris’s phone revealed that he had recently purchased a 75mg Fentanyl patch illegally, according to court documents. Fentanyl is used to treat severe pain and requires a doctor’s prescription.
The next day Harris was released from the hospital and arrested by Madison County deputies for driving under the influence.
Lucky to be alive
In September, Harris was charged with a misdemeanor DUI stemming from a similar situation that happened towards the end of August.
Court records show that police received information about Harris indicating that he was likely driving under the influence of prescription drugs. Deputies located Harris in his blue Ford truck on U.S. 20 near mile marker 330.
Deputies approached the truck and according to court records, they discovered Harris unconscious and unresponsive. An ambulance was dispatched, and Harris was transported to the hospital. A doctor at the hospital told police that considering the drugs in his system and the circumstance he was found in, Harris was lucky to be alive.
Harris was later cited for DUI.
These recent events are not Harris’s first struggle with drugs.
2013 incident
In 2013, Harris was stopped by police in Fremont County after several people called and reported him as a possible DUI.
Court documents show that when police arrived on the scene, Harris’ face was pale, his body was shaking and Harris’s tongue was moving uncontrollably in his mouth.
Harris was asked to exit his truck and while doing so, a pill fell from his lap. That pill was later identified as a hydrocodone. Hydrocodone is an opioid medication used to treat pain.
Police searched Harris’s truck and found a number of hydrocodone pills in three different strengths. Police also discovered clonazepam in Harris’ truck.
Harris was arrested and booked in the Fremont County Jail on one count of misdemeanor DUI and four counts of felony possession on a controlled substance. According to court records, Prosecutor Karl Lewies was assigned to the case, but only pursued the misdemeanor DUI charges, which were later lowered to inattentive driving.
EastIdahoNews.com reached out to Lewies for a comment on the case. He told us he would look over the case file and provide a response within a couple of days.
Harris was once a juvenile probation officer for Madison County, but according to court records, he was fired after being convicted of felony possession of a controlled substance. Harris was accused of stealing Lortab, a medication used to treat pain, from an acquaintance.
Harris pleaded guilty to the felony in December 2009. According to court records, Harris was released early from probation in 2011 and given a withheld judgment.
Harris has most recently worked as therapist after receiving a master’s degree in social work. Harris’ employer says he has recently been let go from his job.
Harris is held in the Madison County Jail on a $10,000 bond.