On 2-19-2023 dispatch advised one of their units that a male had called 911 and requested to speak with an officer in reference to an issue at a local eatery that served alcohol. The officer had knowledge of the incident due to the male calling on the day prior about the incident. Dispatch transferred the call to the officer, and advised they believed the male to be intoxicated. Dispatch advised the male had pulled into a Construction company on Northside Lane.

The officer arrived on the scene and found a male in the operator’s seat of a white Ford F150. The officer observed the male talking on the phone and confirmed via radio that he was speaking to dispatch. The male got off the phone and opened his door. He was identified as Douglas Atherton and he had slurred speech and bloodshot watery eyes. The officer also observed an odor of an alcoholic beverage. Douglas stated the issue was the local eatery was discriminating against him since he was an alcoholic. The officer attempted to explain that it was a civil law matter to no avail.

The officer then told Douglas to get out of the vehicle so he could search him for weapons due to a black pouch observed on Douglas’ belt. Douglas then began reaching into his vehicle and the officer observed a cylinder-shaped object under the seat that was tan in color and black at the end. The officer knew handguns to commonly be this color and believed it could be a firearm. Douglas was not cooperating so the officer grabbed his right hand and escorted him out of the vehicle as Douglas was saying “hold on”.  The officer advised Douglas that he had observed a weapon and an officer proceeded to put his hands behind his back. At that point, the initial officer had a hold of his left arm, and Douglas attempted to pull away towards the vehicle that still had the door open. Douglas stated he had a weapon and he was going to give it to the officer. Douglas was then placed in handcuffs and as he walked toward a patrol car he was unsteady on his feet and fell on the ground as the officer attempted to stop him from falling. Douglas then began stating the officers were hitting him, however, the officer’s body camera footage shows that to be false. He would not get his legs underneath him to stand and the officers had to physically put him in the back of the patrol car. No sobriety tests were performed for the safety of Douglas as well as City Police Officers.

An inventory of the vehicle was completed and the cylinder object was found to be a knife. A 9mm semi-auto Beretta pistol was located in a pouch on the front seat where he was sitting and reaching for it. The pistol had a round in the chamber and two more in the inserted magazine. He was arrested for Driving under the Influence, Misusing 911 calls in Non-emergency, Possession of a handgun while intoxicated, and resisting arrest. He had a dog with him in the truck and it was taken to the animal shelter.

Douglas was transported to the Cumberland County Justice Center where the officer applied for and was granted a Search Warrant to obtain his blood for evidence of DUI. Crossville Fire was called and obtained the blood per the Search Warrant. The blood and Beretta pistol were placed into evidence.