On April 3, 2026, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call about a man in a Jeep who was stuck and had exited the vehicle, lying face down on the ground near Clifty Road in Crossville, Tennessee. Deputy Zachary Early arrived and located 76-year-old Thomas Edwin Crawford of Sparta, approximately 40 feet from the Jeep. Crawford had apparently fallen down a small hill on a dirt road and was visibly intoxicated, showing red watery eyes, slurred speech, unsteady on his feet.

A handgun handle was visible in his front right pocket; Deputy Early removed it and identified it as a chrome Cobra .22 caliber two-shot pistol. Crawford admitted to drinking too many beers and mistakenly believing he was in his own bed when awakened on the ground.

Crawford was arrested on-view at 8:33 PM, placed in double-locked handcuffs, and transported to the Cumberland County jail. He was charged with public intoxication and possession of a handgun while under the influence.

The .22 caliber pistol was seized as evidence. He has a court date of May 11, 2026, at 8:30 AM, with a $2,500 bond on the handgun charge and no bond on the public intoxication charge.