JELLICO, TN (WLAF) – A complaint of a reckless driver traveling south on I-75 in an older model Jeep with Michigan tags ended with an arrest on March 30.

Jellico Assistant Chief of Police Raymond Surber attempted to locate the vehicle around 9:30 pm after the complaint was received and found it traveling recklessly, swerving in and out of lanes. Surber stopped the Jeep and was assisted by Campbell County Deputy Preston Mullins. When Mullins arrived, the pair deemed the stop out of the Jellico City limits, so Mullins took the lead, according to a report from the sheriff’s department.

Mullins contacted the driver identified as Nicholas Wardner and detected a strong smell of alcohol and marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Mullins also noted in the report Wardner had glossy eyes and was slurring his speech while speaking with him.

Wardner was given a series of field sobriety tests which he performed poorly. The vehicle was searched due to the odor of marijuana. The search revealed a green shoulder bag in the front passenger seat containing eight boxes of Indica Premium THC vape cartridges. Each box was labeled to have approximately 80% THC. Also found were three pre-rolled marijuana joints containing approximately .85G of marijuana each, four packs of cannabis rolling papers. A Kel-Tec .380 caliber snub nose pistol with three magazines containing eight live rounds of .380 ammunition, a .22 caliber long rifle and $482.

Wardner, 27, 2921 Overridge Drive, Ann Arbor, MI was charged with driving under the influence (DUI), mfg/del/sell controlled substance, possessing a firearm in commission of a felony and possession hand gun under the influence. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/08/2021-6AM)