A shirtless man who was reportedly yelling at passing cars, standing in traffic, and alarming motorists was given a chance to move along—only to be arrested less than two hours later after deputies found him slumped over at a church.
The first calls came in during the late afternoon when multiple people reported a man standing near a busy intersection panhandling and screaming at passing vehicles.
Callers told dispatch the man appeared to be under the influence of something and was behaving erratically.
When deputies arrived, they found the man standing dangerously close to the roadway.
According to the report, he had no shirt on and had removed one shoe and sock. Deputies observed him standing near the edge of the road with his eyes closed and his head tilted back toward the sky.
The man was identified as Chad Sands of West Virginia.
When deputies asked what he was doing in South Point, Sands reportedly said he was on his way back to Huntington.
He explained that he had removed his shoe because it had gotten wet and pointed out a blister on his foot.
Deputies noted that Sands appeared “high-strung,” was speaking rapidly, and had pinpoint pupils. However, he was not aggressive and declined multiple offers for medical assistance.
After determining he did not have any warrants, deputies returned his identification and instructed him to move along.
The encounter ended without charges.
At least for a little while.
Roughly 90 minutes later, another 911 caller reported a shirtless man slumped over a fence near a church.
The caller believed the man had possibly passed out.
When deputies arrived, they discovered it was the same individual they had encountered earlier.
This time, they immediately noticed a dramatic change.
According to the report, Sands was no longer speaking rapidly. Instead, his speech was slurred, his eyes were barely open, and he appeared to be nodding off while talking to deputies.
When asked what had happened, Sands reportedly offered only a short explanation.
“I wrecked my bike.”
Deputies never located the bicycle.
When questioned about drug use, Sands admitted to smoking “a little bit of weed.”
However, deputies reported that his behavior appeared consistent with a much stronger level of impairment than marijuana alone.
The second incident occurred near the intersection of County Road 1 and County Road 144.
Based on his condition and the concerns for public safety, deputies arrested Sands for Disorderly Conduct by Intoxication.
A search incident to arrest reportedly did not uncover any drugs or drug paraphernalia.
Sands was transported to the Lawrence County Jail and held pending an appearance in Lawrence County Municipal Court.
Why Police Sometimes Give People a Second Chance
Law enforcement officers frequently encounter people who appear impaired but are not committing a crime.
In those situations, deputies often attempt to assess whether someone needs medical help, has outstanding warrants, or simply needs to move along.
However, once a person’s condition begins creating a danger to themselves or others, criminal charges can follow.
In this case, deputies initially allowed Sands to continue on his way after he declined medical assistance. But when he was later found in significantly worse condition and reportedly unable to safely care for himself, the encounter ended with an arrest.