The Payson Roundup / Payson postmaster charged with DUI

Archive for Wednesday, April 1, 2009

April 1, 2009

Payson’s postmaster was arrested and charged with DUI March 23 after cutting through a service station parking lot.

Michael Ridgway, 49, was reportedly driving on Highway 260 when he turned into the Giant gas station around 9:20 p.m. Ridgway drove through the parking lot and exited onto Granite Dells Road and then proceeded to drive to Safeway, said Payson Police Chief Don Engler.

Officer Michael Hansen, who was on patrol in the area, saw Ridgway make the traffic violation, and decided to pull him over in the Safeway parking lot.

Hansen reportedly smelled alcohol on Ridgway’s breath and started a field sobriety test, Engler said.

Ridgway reportedly failed the field test and was taken to the police department for a Breathalyzer test, Engler said.

Ridgway reportedly blew over the legal limit of .08 and was charged with DUI.

Ridgway was sworn in as Payson’s postmaster in September 2007.