PANAMA CITY - Police have arrested a Panama City father suspected of intoxicated driving with his wife and children in the vehicle, Panama City Police Department officials announced Wednesday.
James V. White, 39, was arrested Tuesday at 11:10 a.m. after a wreck at the intersection of U.S. Bus. 98 and East Avenue. Once on scene, officers suspected White of being impaired and initiated a DUI investigation — even after White told them he had just left a methadone clinic, police reported.
Upon completion of the investigation, White was arrested for driving while impaired. White’s driver’s license was suspended at the time and he also was charged with felony driving while license suspended or revoked, police said.
At the time of the crash, White’s wife, who also showed signs of impairment, and two small children were in the vehicle, police reported. The three were not injured; however, the driver of the other vehicle was taken to the hospital for treatment.
White was taken to Bay County Jail and charged with two counts of child abuse, DWI and felony driving with a suspended or revoked license.