JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – A call about a possible accident sent Campbell County Deputy Timothy Powers to Island Ford Road near the National Guard Armory last week.

When he arrived, he found a red Ford Ranger off the road in the field with two men identified as Matthew Aaron Daugherty and Jeffrey Paul Fowler.  Powers noticed when he saw both men they were unsteady on their feet. Powers along with Deputy James McCall spoke with Daugherty who said he was driving down the road when he had a tire blow out.  While he was speaking, deputies allegedly  noticed a strong smell of alcohol, had watery blood shot eyes, slurred speech and was swaying, according to a report from the sheriff’s department. Fowler also had a strong smell of alcohol, watery blood shot eyes and slurred speech.  Fowler allegedly admitted to consuming several alcoholic beverages.

When Daugherty was asked for his driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance, he opened his wallet and allegedly started to grab money to hand to Powers.  After requesting his driver’s license for a second time, he did give his license to Powers.  Daugherty then asked the officers three additional times what else they needed.  He was eventually able to locate the paperwork he believed to be insurance and proof of registration but began fumbling and dropped them on the floorboard.

At this point, he was asked to step into the road.  To maintain his balance, he began grabbing onto the driver’s side truck bed while walking.  Once he was in the roadway, he allegedly said he had been to Fat Bears and consumed several beers.  He was then asked to perform field sobriety tests, which he attempted but did not complete.  While in route to the jail, he stated that he knew he was in the wrong and the deputies were right and that if he had not had a tire blow out the deputies would never have seen them.  He also stated that he “thanked the deputies for doing their job and getting him off the roadway and that the deputies had his full support.”

Daugherty, 47, 1400 Pinecrest Road, Jacksboro was charged with driving under the influence (DUI).  Fowler, 47, 410 Ridenour Lane, Jacksboro was charged with public intoxication.