Contributed File Photo/Courtesy GCSO: William Nicholson is pictured in this 2021 booking photo. Nicholson was arrested late Wednesday night after allegedly committing assault and theft of means of transportation in Greenlee County. He was arrested in Graham County.
By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – A man who said he took his acquaintance’s car over concern of his poor drugged driving admitted to being on fentanyl and methamphetamine himself.
William Clayton Nicholson, 49, of Mesa, was arrested and booked on paper into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on charges of theft of means of transportation, possession of prescription-only drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Deputies were on the lookout for Nicholson late Wednesday night after it was reported to them that he possibly assaulted a person in Greenlee County, took their car without permission, and was headed to Graham County.
Nicholson was found shortly after 11:30 p.m. in a stolen, blue, 2011 Hyundai Sonata, traveling westbound on U.S. Highway 70 near milepost 343.
Upon questioning, Nicholson allegedly said he was originally a passenger in the car but that the driver’s poor performance while high on drugs gave him pause. He said he voiced his concern to the driver, and that conversation soon escalated into a physical fight that eventually involved a knife. Nicholson said he ended up leaving the original driver on the side of the road and driving away in the Sonata. During questioning, deputies were given information from Greenlee County advising of probable cause of arrest for theft of means of transportation and assault that occurred in Greenlee County.
A tow inventory of the car yielded prescription-only pills and drug paraphernalia.
While he was being taken into custody, Nicholson began to sweat profusely, complained of shortness of breath, and believed he was having a heart attack. He then admitted to using fentanyl previously, and the deputy administered two nasal spray doses of Narcan.
Nicholson’s condition continued to worsen, however, and paramedics took over his care and transported him to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center for further treatment. During transport, he allegedly advised he had also ingested methamphetamine as well.
The victim was also transported to MGRMC but by Greenlee EMS. He was treated and released.
As of the deputy’s report, Nicholson remained in the custody of detention officers at the hospital.
