KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A now former Knox County Sheriff's Office lieutenant faces multiple charges after a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper confronted him on suspicion of driving drunk early Friday.
Charles Seth Miller had two open alcoholic canned drinks and "20 other various empty 16 oz. cans of alcohol" in his vehicle, a THP report states.
Miller, who started with the department in June 2013, resigned Friday after his arrest in Monroe County, KCSO spokeswoman Kimberly Glenn told WBIR on Monday. He'd worked as a supervisor at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility.
Miller faces charges in Monroe County of DUI, possession of a handgun while under the influence, resisting arrest, and having an open container in his vehicle, records state.
He's to be arraigned Sept. 9, according to the Monroe County General Sessions Court Clerk's Office.
Trooper Brian Millsaps confronted Miller early Friday on U.S. Highway 411 in Vonore.
Vonore police had seen Miller's red Chevrolet Sonic "speeding and failing to maintain (a) lane," records state. They stopped him.
When Millsaps got to Miller's car, he could smell alcohol. Miller was slurring his words and had watery eyes, according to the trooper. The trooper could see an open Lime-A-Rita can in the cup holder between the front seats.
Miller told the trooper he wouldn't answer any questions and wouldn't go along with performing any of the standardized field tests that law officers perform on drivers when they suspect impairment.
"I then advised Mr. Miller that he was under arrest and told him to step out of the vehicle, which he refused to do several times. He rolled up the driver side window and as I opened the door, he reached and tried to put the vehicle in drive," records state.
Vonore police and Millsaps got the unsteady driver out of the car.
While searching the car, the trooper found another open Lime-A-Rita can partially hidden under the driver seat.
"I also located 20 other various empty 16 oz. cans of alcohol in the vehicle," the trooper wrote.
Miller also had a loaded 9mm Beretta pistol in his car.
Miller declined to submit to a blood test so Millsaps got a search warrant for his blood. He was taken to jail.