Tag: driving under the influence

DUI: Joe Sparks speeds down I-24, tells police his wife had to use the restroom

E.Z Emerson

67-year-old Joe Lee Sparks was speeding on I-24 East near mile marker 55.8 around 12:19 a.m. on April 6th. Officers were conducting traffic enforcement when they observed his Nissan Murano going 86 mph in a 70 mph zone, weaving in and out of traffic. Officers activated their sirens, and Sparks pulled over to the right shoulder of Exit 57, Haywood Lane, ramp, partially in the travel lane. Before officers approached, they instructed Sparks to pull directly in front of them. Sparks exited his Murano without being instructed to, so officers asked him to return to his vehicle, where they informed him why they stopped him. Sparks told them his wife had to use the restroom, causing him to speed. As officers spoke with Sparks, they noticed he had a slight alcoholic odor, so they asked if he had anything to drink. He admitted to having one beer and later told them he had a mixed cocktail. Sparks showed numerous signs of intoxication while he explained that he and his wife were heading home from a family gathering at his sister-in-law’s. Officers asked him, using a scale from 1-10, to grade himself on his impairment level, to which he replied, “Three.” Then, Sparks consented to sobriety tests, performed poorly, and after being explained implied consent, agreed to provide a blood sample. Sparks was taken into custody for driving under the influence and speeding.

DUI: Brandon Cato found stumbling around car, tells officers “Yes, I drank a buzz ball”

Brodie Martin

24-year-old Brandon Cato was involved in a car accident on April 5th. When officers arrived, they observed Cato stumbling around his vehicle. They asked Cato if he had anything to drink, and he replied, “Yes, I drank a buzz ball.” When officers asked for his driver’s license, he handed over his vape, stating, “I put my license in my vape.” Cato then gave officers his debit card and said, “here’s my license.” Eventually, Cato handed over the proper credentials after several attempts to search for them. Cato consented to sobriety tests and performed poorly. Cato also agreed to a breath test and scored a .147% BAC. Brandon Cato was taken into custody and charged with driving under the influence.

DUI: Jonathan Yancey jailed after falling asleep behind the wheel at intersection 

Jason Steen

25-year-old Jonathan Yancey was found asleep at the wheel of his vehicle while stopped in the middle of the roadway near Lebanon Pike and Donelson Pike just after 2 a.m. Saturday. NFD arrived and kept him warm in the back of the ambulance until police arrived. He admitted to drinking alcohol earlier in the night, had slurred speech, and was visibly intoxicated. He performed poorly on field sobriety tests and was taken into custody for driving under the influence. He later clarified that he consumed one Bud Light Beer and one shot of Tequila prior to diving.

DUI: Parker Bates drinks before attempting to pick up drunk friends

E.Z Emerson

23-year-old Parker Bates was driving in the parking garage at the Music City Center on Representative John Lewis Way South to pick up two of her friends late January 26th. Officers noticed her two intoxicated friends waiting for her and directing her to their location. Bates arrived and stopped a few feet from the officers. When Bates exited her vehicle, officers quickly noticed she had the smell of alcohol on her person. Officers asked if Bates had drunk anything, which she denied. Bates then agreed to a quick breathalyzer test and failed. Officers asked her to perform additional sobriety tests, which she consented to and performed poorly. Officers advised Bates of implied consent and agreed to a full breath test where she blew a 0.113 BAC%. Bates was taken into custody and charged for driving under the influence.

DUI: Jackson Brady pulled over for fleeing accident, tells police he didn’t know

E.Z Emerson

22-year-old Jackson Brady collided with a Toyota Tundra in his blue Kia on the interstate near Jefferson Street early January 28th. Officers located the two vehicles at the Stewarts Ferry Pike and Bell Road intersection and noticed the Tundra following the Kia. So, they activated their sirens, initiating a traffic stop on the Kia. Brady was slow to stop and exhibited many signs of intoxication during their interaction. Brady advised that he didn’t know he had hit a vehicle and consented to sobriety tests, where he performed poorly. Brady told them that he was going home from work, then admitted to consuming alcohol before driving. Brady was taken into custody for driving under the influence, failing to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, and failing to give information.

DUI: Shane Stoltzfus blows a 0.219% BAC after causing two-vehicle accident

E.Z Emerson

31-year-old Shane Stoltzfus was involved in a two-vehicle accident near the West Trinity Lane and Brick Church Pike intersection in the early hours of January 28th. Officers observed the accident and spoke with Stoltzfus to render aid if needed. During questioning, he had a hard time getting his identification and showed signs of intoxication. Stoltzfus admitted to drinking 2-3 IPA beers at his job, consented to sobriety tests, and performed poorly. They informed him of implied consent, and he agreed to provide a breath sample, which resulted in 0.219 BAC%. Stoltzfus was taken into custody for driving under the influence.

DUI: Nickolas Bell drinks before causing car accident

E.Z Emerson

28-year-old Nickolas Levi Bell was involved in a car accident during the early hours of January 28th. As officers arrived, Bell advised them that he was the driver and admitted to alcohol consumption. Bell consented to sobriety tests, performed poorly, and provided a breath sample, resulting in 0.135 BAC%. Bell was taken into custody for driving under the influence.

Jackson Crouch charged with DUI after early morning crash on interstate

E.Z Emerson

18-year-old Jackson Crouch had a car accident on I-24 East near mile marker 61 on January 28th. When officers arrived, NFD personnel advised them that Crouch did not want medical attention. They spoke with Crouch, who said he was changing a song, causing him to swerve off the roadway into the tree line. Then, he told them that he took a “bong rip” before driving. They observed him to be visibly intoxicated as he refused to participate in sobriety tests. Crouch was informed of implied consent and later admitted to drinking alcohol under Miranda. He was taken into custody for driving under the influence.

Colin Teaser charged with DUI after canoodling with girlfriend in church parking lot

E.Z Emerson

18-year-old Colin Teaser told police he was just “chilling” with his girlfriend on Bell Road at the Rural Hill Church of Christ parking lot on January 21st when they encountered the couple in a car together. Officers received reports regarding a suspicious vehicle, arrived, and spoke to Teaser, who advised them that a security guard had informed him it was private property before they showed up. They noticed his slurred words as he told them he had taken two allergy medications. He consented to sobriety tests and performed poorly, showing numerous signs of impairment. Teaser was taken into custody for driving under the influence.

Taylor Riley charged with DUI after “two green tea shots”

Jason Steen

28-year-old Taylor Riley was speeding down the roadway just after 2 a.m. Saturday when officers observed her slow down erratically while swapping between lanes, and eventually coming to a stop across two lanes of travel on Gallatin Pike. She was slow to respond to officers who approached her, and stated she had consumed “two green tea shots” before driving. She showed multiple signs of impairment on field sobriety tests and blew a 0.160% BAC on a breathalyzer.