SEVIERVILLE, Tenn — Police arrested a Sevier County constable overnight after they said they caught him driving under the influence.
According to the Sevierville Police Department, officers arrested 65-year-old Sammy Scott just before midnight on Wednesday after stopping him on Highway 66 near an Arby's. Police said Scott failed to stay in his lane and they ultimately arrested him for DUI.
According to the arrest report, Scott pulled out a credit card at first when he was asked to show his driver's license. The responding officer said his license was in plain sight, and he eventually pulled out the license. The officer then asked Scott to step out of the vehicle for a sobriety test, which he performed "poorly on."
He was booked into the Sevier County Jail around 10:15 a.m. Thursday and charged with a first offense of driving under the influence after he was taken to LeConte Medical Center for a blood test.
A spokesperson for Sevier County said Scott could be subject to the state's ouster rules. According to the law, county officers can be ousted from their office for:
- Knowing or willful misconduct in office;
- Knowing or willful neglect of duties required by law;
- Voluntary intoxication in a public place;
- Engaging in illegal gambling; or
- Committing any act violating any penal statute involving moral turpitude.
According to the Tennessee Constable's Association, Scott has served as a constable in Kodak for close to 20 years and was reelected in 2022 after he ran uncontested.
In Tennessee, some counties choose to elect constables to serve as independent officials with limited law enforcement responsibilities. They are not paid a salary. Instead, they are paid through court fees after they arrest or cite someone.