A state constable claiming he was on his way to assist with a DUI sobriety checkpoint in State College turned out to be under the influence of alcohol when a state police patrol supervisor stopped him for speeding on Route 220 near the West Fourth Street interchange in Woodward Township in late November, according to an affidavit filed at the office of District Judge Denise Dieter.

Driving a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, Gerard Thomas Jones Jr. “was wearing full Pennsylvania state constable attire, including gunbelt, firearm, taser and handcuffs” when he was stopped for traveling 80 mph about 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 27, Cpl. Michael App wrote in an affidavit. The registration to the truck also was suspended for insurance cancellation, App said. There were state-contable decals on the back and sides of the vehicle, the trooper added.

Jones, 35, of 609 Locust St., failed to stop initially after App activated his unmarked cruiser’s emergency lights. Jones pulled over only after he called the state police barracks at Montoursville “to confirm that a legitimate police officer was behind him, attempting to initiate a traffic stop,” it was stated in the affidavit. Jones told the trooper that he was aware that his registration had been “suspended for a month and that he was trying to work with PennDOT and an insurance company to rectify the situation,” the court document stated.

App said he noticed Jones’ eyes to be glassy and bloodshot, and he also detected “a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage” on Jones, who admitted initially to having “one beer two hours ago,” but then later said he had had two beers, the affidavit stated. The driver also displayed “signs of impairment” during a field sobriety test, His BAC at the time was .11, App said. Charged with DUI and three summary offenses, Jones has waived his preliminary hearing and is free on $10,000 bail. Muncy police charged him last month with fleeing law enforcement and two summary offenses following a brief pursuit while he was driving on Route 15 in Brady Township on Dec. 24. He has waived those charges as well and is free on $5,000 bail in this case. Muncy police provide services in Brady Township.