Sallisaw Man Charged with DUI

A Sallisaw man was arrested Aug. 3 and charged with three misdemeanors after a short police pursuit.

Records show that John Paul Cascaden, 31, was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol, attempting to elude a police officer and driving with a revoked driver’s license.

A Sallisaw police officer reportedly saw Cascaden’s red Dodge pickup speed through the intersection of Ridge Drive and Wheeler Avenue and pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone. 

When the officer attempted to stop Cascaden, he continued driving very fast, the report indicates. During the pursuit, Cascaden would slow down to let officers catch up with him, then pull back onto the roadway and take off again, which he did several times, the report shows. 

When the driver finally stopped, the officer reportedly saw Cascaden use the side of the truck to regain his balance. Upon questioning the man, the officer said he smelled the strong scent of alcohol and burned marijuana.

A search of the pickup revealed two white containers and a chrome marijuana smoking device.

When asked why he fled, Cascaden admitted that he had consumed two Tall Boy beer cans and had smoked two bowls of marijuana.

The DUI charge is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and imprisonment for up to one year, as well as a fine of up to $1,000. The charge for attempting to evade a police officer carries a sentence of up to 1 year in jail or a fine of up to $2,000, while the driving with suspended license sentence carries a fine of up to $500 and imprisonment for up to one year or both. 

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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