CARYVILLE, TN (WLAF) – A car driving recklessly caught Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputy Preston Mullins attention on Highway 116, Caryville on Saturday.

Mullins saw the car cross the center yellow line and weave in and out of the lane. Mullins stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver of the vehicle, Stephen Heckler. While he was speaking with Heckler he could allegedly smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle, according to a report from the sheriff’s department.

As Heckler was exiting the vehicle, appeared to be unsteady and was holding onto the car for support. When he was walking to the rear of the vehicle, he did tremble and almost fall. After Hackler performed poorly on field sobriety tests, he was arrested.

During the traffic stop, the passenger of the vehicle, identified as George Perry, got out of the vehicle without being told to do so. Mullins had Perry get back into the car and told him to stay in the car. However Perry did not stay in the vehicle. He walked back to the patrol car and was very unsteady and was not able to walk properly or stand without support. Mullins could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from him. Perry was offered a courtesy ride to his home and was told the vehicle would be impounded. He then became belligerent and started slurring vulgar words at Mullins based on the report.

Heckler, 63, 108 Old Vasper Road, Caryville was charged with driving under the influence (DUI).

Perry, 63, 562 Good Ole Boys Dr, Dalton, Georgia, was charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 03/26/2021-6AM)