An Oolitic man arrested in Greene County last Thursday is accused of driving under the influence with a loaded handgun and a case of beer in the rear seat, but no gun permit and no valid driver’s license.

John Wesley Cowden, 49, Oolitic, was arrested Thursday afternoon, October 31, by Deputy James Carpenter of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.

Officers were looking for Cowden in Greene County to check on his welfare after the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department reported Cowden had a handgun and might possibly harm himself. Cowden was driving a black Nissan Altima. After a vehicle matching the description was seen next to the Greene County Courthouse before it headed south on US 231, Deputy Carpenter staged in the area of US 231 just north of the I-69 overpass.

When Deputy Carpenter saw the vehicle, it turned eastbound on State Road 58 then turned south onto West Gate Road and pulled into a driveway. Deputy Carpenter said the vehicle crossed the center line twice.

During a traffic stop, Cowden was cooperative and denied that he had any intention of harming himself. However, Deputy Carpenter said Cowden exhibited signs of intoxication and he saw several empty beer cans in the rear floor board and a case of beer on a rear seat.

When the deputy asked him how much he had to drink, he allegedly said probably four beers. When asked if all the cans were from that day, he allegedly said he does this every day.

Cowden was cooperative and told the deputy he had a gun. The deputy found it in the rear seat, a Smith and Wesson .45 caliber handgun with ammo in the magazine. It was chambered with a live round.

GCSD Deputy Jordan Gooding assisted on the scene.

Cowden was transported to the sheriff’s department where he allegedly failed standard field sobriety testing, then tested with a .241 BAC on a certified chemical test.

Deputy Carpenter reported Cowden’s driver’s license was not valid and his handgun permit from Florida was expired.

Cowden was booked in with bond set at $5,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He posted $500 and was released the next day.

He is currently scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court on Thursday morning, November 14, for an initial hearing when he will be formally charged with:

• Carrying a handgun without a license, a Class A misdemeanor,

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor,

• Operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 or more, and

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor.