A motorist alerted law enforcement about what appeared to be a reckless driver, potentially saving other motorists from a dangerous situation. The alleged reckless driver was arrested.
According to the report filed by Cocke County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jacob Damron on Thursday, May 2 shortly after 3 p.m., dispatch had received the call of a Nissan Altima being driven by a female, nearly hitting other motorists on Cosby Highway while passing Cosby School. Damron reports at the intersection of Middle Creek Road and Cosby Highway, the 911 complainant advised dispatch the vehicle was approaching him and flashed their lights to alert him. Damron reports that he observed the driver nodding off and looking down while dropping off the roadway three different times.
At that point Damron states he activated his blue lights as the vehicle, whose driver was later identified as Carrie Shults, 44, of Gatlinburg, continued on Cosby Highway. After activating his siren Shults reportedly looked into her side mirror and continued, turning right onto Wilton Springs Road before coming to a stop, then pulling back off before stopping again at which point Damron escorted Shults from the vehicle.
However, after removing Shults, the vehicle continued to roll into the roadway and Damron jumped into the vehicle to prevent it from causing an accident.
Shults reportedly told Damron her sugar was low. It was noted she had slurred speech, couldn’t keep her eyes open and had difficulty communicating. She was cleared by EMS with a blood sugar level of 239.
A second deputy, Gavin Colley, arrived on the scene and after Shults was medically cleared by EMS, she reportedly told Gavin she had taken an 800mg tablet of Gabapentin and a half-tab of Suboxone. Shults performed poorly on field sobriety testing.
An inventory of her vehicle located a silver box containing several needles, a single spoon with residue on it, five suspected Suboxone strip packages and and a clear baggie of suspected methamphetamine. All items reportedly found were in a backpack claimed by Shults and in the front seat area.
She was transported to Priority for a blood draw and then to the Cocke County Jail Annex.
Shults was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to sale/deliver/manufacture, unlawful drug paraphernalia, driving while license suspended, possession of schedule II and failure to maintain lane.
The Cocke County Sheriff’s Office advised her bond was set at $17,000.
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