Teen picks up 3rd DUI charge in 5 weeks

Published 5:07 pm Monday, June 12, 2017

A Carter County teenager was arrested over the weekend on his third driving under the influence charge in five weeks.

Tennessee Highway Patrol Sgt. Doug Brewer arrested Zackary Adam Burem, 18, of 115 Lazy K Ranch Road, Elizabethton, on Saturday and charged him with underage driving under the influence, violation of the implied consent law, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to court documents, Brewer spotted a vehicle parked in the roadway at the intersection of Mill Street and Cherokee Park Drive around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday. Brewer said he approached the car without activating his emergency lights and observed the driver, later identified as Burem, “slumped over behind the wheel.”

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The officer began speaking with Burem and noted the teen’s actions were lethargic, his speech was slurred and his eyes were red. Brewer said Burem failed to perform a series of field sobriety tests correctly.

“I arrested Zackary Adam Burem for underage DUI and asked him to submit to a blood test,” Brewer said. “He refused, according to him because he had smoked a large amount of marijuana and this was his third arrest for DUI in three weeks.”

Burem appeared in Carter County General Sessions Court for arraignment on Monday, and the State filed a motion with the court asking that his bond be revoked in the two pending DUI cases.

“This is the third DUI allegation that has occurred in five weeks,” Assistant District Attorney Ryan Curtis said, adding he was not sure if Burem had any convictions for DUI charges on his record.

In court Curtis made an oral motion for bond revocation and later filed a written motion to revoke Burem’s bond.

“The State is of the opinion that these new circumstances materially affect the Defendant’s likelihood of flight and evidence increased danger to public safety, particularly due to the nature of the charges and the repetitious manner in which the allegations have arisen,” Curtis said in the motion.

In court, Burem indicated he had retained an attorney in his pending cases.

Judge Keith Bowers Jr. ordered that Burem be held without bond pending a hearing on the State’s motion. Bowers scheduled Burem to return to court on Monday, June 19, with his attorney regarding the motion to revoke his bond.

According to court records, the two prior DUI charges against Burem occurred on May 5 and May 20.

In the May 5 incident, Carter County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jason Mosier arrested Burem around 3:15 after responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked at a city business. According to court documents, Burem failed field sobriety tests and told officers he had been smoking marijuana. Mosier arrested Burem and charged him with driving under the influence.

On May 20, EPD Cpl. James Deese arrested Burem following a traffic stop. According to court documents, after Deese stopped the vehicle, he identified the driver as Burem and noted his speech was slurred and the teen had difficulty keeping his eyes open while speaking with officers. Deese said Burem admitted to smoking marijuana.

“While speaking and explaining the charges to Burem, he looked at me and stated ‘I will give you $100 if you just follow me home,” Deese said. “I told Burem what he just did was called a bribe towards an officer, and it was illegal.”

Deese arrested Burem and charged him with driving under the influence, bribery of a public servant, and failure to yield the right of way.

According to court records, Burem had not yet appeared in court on the two pending charges. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 21 in connection with the May 5 arrest and July 24 in connection with the May 20 arrest.