A Crossville man with a history of driving under the influence was arrested on June 21, 2026, after a traffic stop revealed he was allegedly operating a vehicle while heavily impaired by prescription narcotics.

Officer Nikolas Brendel of the Fairfield Glade Police Department initiated the traffic stop on a black Chevy Silverado along Stonehenge Drive at Cross Lane. Officer Brendel observed the vehicle failing to maintain its lane, crossing into the oncoming lane of travel on Peavine Road, and driving between lanes without utilizing a turn signal. The driver also appeared to not be wearing a seatbelt.

Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer made contact with the driver, 55-year-old Billy Joe Derrick. According to police reports, Derrick immediately attempted to excuse his erratic driving by gesturing to a dog in his lap, stating, “That right here is why I’m driving crazy.”

Derrick, who provided a Tennessee identification card, admitted to the officer that his driver’s license had been suspended for 20 years following an accident. A dispatch background check quickly revealed that Derrick was a repeat DUI offender.

Though no odor of alcohol was detected, Officer Brendel noted that Derrick displayed pinpoint pupils and struggled significantly during field sobriety tests, demonstrating poor balance and a failure to follow basic instructions. Derrick later admitted to taking an 8mg dose of Suboxone earlier that morning. His impairment became increasingly apparent during transport to the Cumberland County Jail, where he became lethargic and repeatedly tried to sleep.

Following a blood draw conducted by a jail nurse via a search warrant, Derrick was officially charged with:

• Driving Under the Influence

• Driving on a Revoked/Suspended License

Further investigation into Derrick’s criminal history indicated this incident marks his third or greater DUI offense.

Following the arrest, the suspect’s wife arrived to retrieve the truck and dog. She later reported finding hypodermic needles and a piece of tinfoil containing an unidentified white powder inside her husband’s cigarette pack. When questioned about the contraband while in custody, Derrick denied ownership. Due to a lapse in time and an interrupted chain of custody, the items were ultimately destroyed by police.

Derrick is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on August 3, 2026.