Yesterday, Deputy Shawn Aytes responded to the I-40 Mile Marker 327 westbound rest area for a gray vehicle with damage to the front end and the horn going off. Once on scene, Aytes located the vehicle parked in the handicapped parking spot.

Aytes attempted to make contact with the driver later identified as Jerry Lynn Rush of Harriman. Rush didn’t respond to verbal attempts to make contact. While observing Rush through the window, the deputy saw him slumped into the steering wheel, shaking and leaning back and forth, with his head hitting the horn.

Deputy Aytes opened the driver’s door and observed a large bag with 40 grams of a crystal-like substance in the door handle in plain view. The deputy patted Rush on the shoulder, who then responded.

Aytes asked Rush how he got to the rest area, to which he said he drove to his current spot and arrived around 30 minutes prior to the deputy’s arrival. Aytes asked the driver to exit the vehicle, but he tried to place his shoes back on, his movements were slow and lethargic, and after a few minutes of failed attempts Deputy Aytes had to assist him.

Rush is described as unable to stand without assistance and was placed under arrest for driving under the influence and placed in a patrol unit while a search was performed on the vehicle. The search uncovered a pack of baggies and a scale.

There were items in the vehicle for a female, when was asked if there was a female in the vehicle with him, Rush said yes, and that she ran off when law enforcement arrived on the scene.

THP and Crossville units canvased the area but were unable to locate a female. Rush was transported to Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office jail for booking. On arrival at the jail, a small bag of fentanyl was found in Rush’s wallet.

Aytes applied for a search warrant for blood to be drawn to obtain evidence of any intoxicants. After the blood draw, and a DRE assessment, Dep. Pencka spoke to Rush, who admitted to doing Meth just before Aytes arrived in the parking lot of the rest area.

Rush was charged with D.U.I., possession of Methamphetamine, driving while in possession of Meth, and simple possession of fentanyl.