JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputy Shayne Wilburn noticed a white Ford F-150 pick-up truck that had pulled off into a small embankment off Hatmaker Ridge Road road around 1am Sunday morning. Wilburn made contact with the driver identified as Luther Martin Ward who was in the back of the pickup truck throwing out Coca-Cola cans while another person was attempting to pour gasoline into the gas tank of the truck.

Wilburn spoke to the other person to asked what happened. She reported that she had ran out of gas and pulled over to the side of the road, but when she got back, the truck was down in the embankment, according to a report from the sheriff’s department. Wilburn then spoke with Ward, and he reported that when they parked the truck, he attempted to get it out of the roadway. According to the report, it looked like it was a possible wreck due to the tire marks skidding down the embankment approximately 10 yards.

Ward was allegedly sweating profusely, talking very fast and constantly moving while speaking to the deputy. Ward asked if he could sit down while Wilburn was figuring out what to do. Wilburn spoke to the other person again, and she reported that Ward was driving the truck. Wilburn turned around to check on Ward and saw he was asleep. After about a minute of Wilburn trying to wake him up Ward, Ward finally woke up.

Ward was given field sobriety tests and failed them. When Wilburn attempted to place handcuffs on Ward, Ward began to resist, and Deputy Cody Fox and Deputy Brett Starrett helped to get the handcuffs on him. While the deputies was walking to the patrol car, Ward began to refuse and resist getting into the patrol car. Ward was placed in the patrol car and transported to the jail. When they arrived, he refused to stand on his own two feet, prompting Deputies Wilburn and Fox to carry Ward into the jail.

Ward, 51, Jacksboro is charged with driving under the influence (DUI), violation implied consent law, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The arrest report details that this was the 30th arrest for Luther Martin Ward.

According to jail records, Ward was released from the Campbell County Jail about 12 hours after his arrest. He is free on a $9,500 bond and is due in court on Nov. 4. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 10/22/2021-6AM)

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