Ian Chandler Blair Smith

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — A 22-year-old Georgia College student was arrested early Sunday for trying to offer a local deputy sheriff money to keep from going to jail.

The student, who is from Macon, was identified as Ian Chandler Blair Smith, according to an incident report filed by Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Lt. Steve McDade.

Warrants were taken out against Smith on charges of bribery, public indecency, and public drunkenness, records show.

He later was taken to the Baldwin County Law Enforcement Center where he was jailed.

McDade said in his report that while he was patrolling in the area of South Wayne and Hancock streets shortly after 4:30 a.m. he saw a man urinating in the roadway.

The deputy said he got out of his patrol car and walked up to the man, later identified as Smith.

At the time, McDade said he smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and his body.

“His eyes were very red and his speech slurred,” McDade said in his report. 

The deputy also described Smith as unsteady on his feet and that he was experiencing difficulty keeping his balance.

McDade said when he asked Smith for his identification that he gave him his student college ID instead of a driver’s license.

When the deputy told Smith that he needed his driver’s license, Smith reportedly pulled three $20 bills from his pocket, one of which fell to the ground. McDade said Smith offered the other two bills to him.

McDade said in his report that he told Smith he didn’t want his money. Instead, the deputy said all he wanted from the man was his driver’s license.

Again, Smith tried to offer the deputy money.

That’s when McDade said he placed Smith under arrest with the assistance of Milledgeville Police Officer Andrew Daniel.

After Smith was taken into custody and placed into the rear seat of the patrol car, he reportedly continued offering the deputy bribe money. Smith reportedly continued offering McDade money, ranging from $40 to $200, until he was turned over to jail staff, according to the report.