Wednesday, April 01, 2020

Whitson charged
Cocke County authorities arrested a Newport attorney on Monday after he was allegedly spotted driving erratically on the Cosby Road. Deputy Ethan Keys said Process Server Randy Forbes reported to Lt. Max Laughter that he was following a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer which was traveling at a very slow rate of speed, impeding traffic and was swerving from lane to lane. The vehicle, operated by John Derrick Whitson, 39, Moore Street, also allegedly struck the curb near the Hedrick Drive intersection, just after lunch time. Deputy Forbes followed the vehicle to Walmart where it circled the store and proceeded north where it circled the McDonalds restaurant and proceeded northbound. Deputy Keys then followed the car as it traveled at 10 miles per hour, weaving in traffic. When Whiton was stopped, he was found to have a a bottle of what appeared to be liquor on the passenger seat. But the driver said he didn't know where his driver's license was. After the driver did poorly on a field sobriety test, he refused a blood or breath test, but Officer Keys obtained a search warrant and then a blood draw was made by personnel with First Call EMS. Whitson then was jailed on a charge of driving under the influence. The defendant was charged with a similar offense in May 2017.


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