DIXFIELD — Erratic driving and a headlight out landed a Phillips man in jail Tuesday night on alcohol and drug charges, police said Wednesday.

Shortly after the 8:06 p.m. traffic stop, Dixfield police Sgt. Jeffrey Howe arrested Joshua M. Brann, 23, of 1353 Reeds Mills Road, on charges of operating under the influence, operating without a license, illegal possession of prescription drugs, and criminal mischief, Chief Richard A. Pickett said.

Brann, who failed to post $500 cash bail, was taken to Oxford County Jail in Paris, where he remained Wednesday afternoon. He will be arraigned on June 8 in Rumford District Court.

Pickett said that after stopping Brann, Howe learned that Brann had been previously convicted of operating under the influence and illegal possession of drugs, and was driving under a conditional driver’s license until May 11. That meant he could legally drive only if he didn’t have any alcohol in his system, Pickett said.

In the car, Howe found two prescription pills in a baggy and alcohol.

“Normally, people carry their prescription pills in a bottle, and he was unable to provide proof of his prescription to the officer, so he was charged,” Pickett said.

Then, after Brann was unable to post bail, Howe drove him to the Paris jail for booking. However, while en route, Brann, whom Pickett said was cooperative during the traffic stop, suddenly became violent.

“He was trying to kick out the side window bars and spitting on the floors, and he banged his head on the window bars,” Pickett said of the criminal mischief charge. “He was spitting quite a bit. Jeff probably spent most of the night cleaning spit out of the new patrol car.”

tkarkos@sunjournal.com