St. Mary Parish Deputies Arrest Drunk Driver

A Franklin man was arrested Saturday morning just before noon for driving while intoxicated and careless operation after a deputy was called to a ditch off of Highway 87.

The deputy says while talking to 57-year-old Ernest Pontiff III, he smelled alcohol on the man's breath.

The deputy conducted a field sobriety test and blood alcohol concentration test, and Pontiff registered a .162 percent blood alcohol level.

Pontiff later bonded out of jail on a $3,000 bond.