Payson Roundup

Payson’s postmaster was sentenced April 14 for DUI after pleading guilty in Payson’s Magistrate Court.

Michael Ridgway, 49, was sentenced to 10 consecutive days in jail with all but 24 consecutive hours suspended with successful completion of an alcohol program and ordered to pay $1,582 in fines, according to court records.

Ridgway pleaded guilty to DUI with a blood alcohol content to of .08 or higher and DUI-alcohol, drug, vapor or combination thereof. Police stopped Ridgway after he was spotted cutting through a service station parking lot March 23.

Officer Michael Hansen watched Ridgway turn into the Giant gas station around 9:20 p.m. off Highway 260 and continue to drive through the parking lot and onto Granite Dells Road. Ridgway then proceeded to drive to the Safeway parking lot, said Payson Police Chief Don Engler.

After witnessing the traffic violation, Hansen decided to pull Ridgway over in the Safeway parking lot.

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

Ridgway 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 of 2007.