A Crossville resident was taken into custody early Sunday morning after allegedly abandoning his wrecked SUV, stripping down to his underwear, and telling deputies he believed he was in a video game and that earthly laws did not apply to him.

According to a Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office incident report, deputies responded to the area of Taylor Chapel Road on August 9, 2026, following a report from the driver’s father. Officers discovered a black Mazda SUV that had veered off the road, traveled roughly 50 yards into a field, and struck several trees. The driver was nowhere to be found, though a pair of flip-flops was discovered along the roadway.

Dispatchers contacted the driver, identified as 27-year-old Russell Paul Yoder, who stated he was located near a lighted cross down the road. Deputies located Yoder seated at the base of a cross off Hidden Valley Road, wearing only his underwear. When asked about his attire, Yoder reportedly stated that he “needed to shed his old rags.”

Investigators noted that Yoder admitted to driving too fast, stating that he felt like he was in a video game and claiming that he was Jesus. He further asserted that the crash happened for a reason and that it should have been fatal. When deputies informed him that leaving the scene of an accident is illegal, Yoder told officers that the laws did not apply to him.

Yoder was taken into custody without further incident and transported to the Cumberland County Jail. He has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident and is scheduled to appear in court on September 21, 2026, with a bond set at $2,000.