A 58-year-old Dugger man was arrested in the early morning hours of Dec. 18 after he was found asleep in his vehicle in the northbound lane of North State Road 59, the vehicle in drive with his foot on the brake. 

The Greene County Sheriff’s Department received a call regarding a vehicle stopped in the middle of State Road 59 near 4522 North State Road 59. The caller reported the driver who was asleep, briefly opened his eyes after the caller “beat” on the window, then closed his eyes again. 

Deputy Camron Frye reported to the scene and found the vehicle as described by the caller. After approximately two and a half minutes of knocking, the driver — Jeffrey J. Smith — began to wake up. According to the probable cause affidavit, Smith was slow to react and Frye continued to knock on the window, advising Smith to put the car in park. Smith then rolled down the back window and continued manipulating various controls on the center console, including the heater controls and radio volume. 

When Smith exited the vehicle, he staggered and leaned against the vehicle to gain his balance. When Deputy Frye asked him how much he’d had to drink, Smith did not answer. Instead, he said he didn’t have his driver’s license with him. When asked why he was asleep in the middle of the road, Smith hesitated before stating he was heading home. While speaking with Smith, Deputy Frye detected the odor of alcohol emitted from his exhaled breath.

Frye again asked Smith how much he’d had to drink and he allegedly reported, “more than I should probably”

Deputy Frye conducted a field sobriety test, which Smith failed. . 

Smith was transported to Greene County Jail.. His bond was set at $4,000 surety with 10 percent cash allowed. He posted $400 and was released later the same day.

When he appears in Greene Superior Court on Jan. 5, he will be formally charged with: 

• Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person, a Class A Misdemeanor

• Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, a Class C Misdemeanor

• Operating a Vehicle with an Alcohol Concentration Equivalent to at Least .08 but Less than .15, a Class C Misdemeanor