A county man faces multiple charges, including a third offense of driving under the influence, after police say a 911 caller reported seeing him with an open container of alcohol in his car as he sat at the drive-thru of a local pharmacy.
Officers of the Elizabethton Police Department arrested Matthew David Taylor, 32, of 183 Spindale Drive, Elizabethton, on Wednesday morning and charged him with third offense driving under the influence, fifth offense driving on a revoked license, simple possession of Schedule VI drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of the open container law.
Around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, officers of the EPD were dispatched to Walgreen’s pharmacy, located at 214 Broad St., on a report of an intoxicated driver with an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. The 911 caller told dispatchers the man was in a white Chevrolet Trailblazer sitting in the drive-thru of the pharmacy.
EPD Cpl. Doug Combs responded to the call and as he approached the vehicle he said he saw an aluminum container of beer in the center cup holder in plain view. Combs said he spoke with the driver and was able to identify him as Taylor.
“While speaking with Mr. Taylor, I noticed he exhibited slurred speech and slow movements,” Combs said. “Mr. Taylor also emitted an odor of alcohol from his breath.”
Combs said Taylor handed him the open container of alcohol and he noted it was about half empty. Taylor also admitted he had taken his prescription medication earlier in the day, Combs said.
Taylor submitted to a series of field sobriety tests, and Combs said Taylor’s performance on the tests was “consistent with that of an intoxicated person.”
A check of Taylor’s driving history revealed he had been convicted of DUI twice before and also had four prior convictions for driving on a suspended or revoked license.
During a pat down search of Taylor, Combs said he found a glass pipe with burnt residue in it that smelled like marijuana. When officers searched Taylor’s vehicle they found an orange container in the center console that contained marijuana.
Taylor appeared in Carter County General Sessions Court on Friday where he was arraigned on the charges against him. Judge Keith Bowers set Taylor’s bond at $2,000 and scheduled him to return to court on May 24 with an attorney.