DUFF, TN (WLAF) – On Sat. April 15 at 4:30 am, Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputy Preston Mullins was dispatched to South Hwy 25W and Duff for a car accident. A passerby called 911 reporting a vehicle had run off the road. When Mullins arrived, he saw a large amount of dirt and rock in the roadway, as well as long grind marks on the asphalt where the shoulder drops into a ditch, the report said.

Mullins spoke with the driver of the vehicle identified as Clyde Randall Shelby. According to a report from the sheriff’s office, Shelby appeared to have red eyes and dilated pupils, there was also a strong smell of Marijuana coming from the vehicle. Shelby said he thought he had a tie rod go out in the car causing him to run off the roadway.

The deputy checked the vehicle and found a large amount of mud covering the entire passenger side of the vehicle indicating that the vehicle made side contact with the hillside. The vehicle also had disabling damage to the front passenger side, the front passenger side tire was shredded and there was severe damage to the tire’s rim and it was missing a hubcap, the report said.

Shelby allegedly admitted to having drug paraphernalia in the center console of the vehicle. He continued that he had a bong (smoking device) that had been used to smoke Cannabis. Mullins asked Shelby to walk to his patrol car, and Mullins could allegedly smell Marijuana coming from Shelby. He was asked when the last time he smoked Marijuana, and he reported it was days prior. A search of the vehicle revealed a green and black smoking device tucked under the driver seat of the vehicle where Shelby was sitting.

Shelby was asked to perform a field sobriety test and due to poor performance, he was arrested. During transport to the jail Mullins asked Shelby what his plan was after wrecking, and Shelby reported he was going to walk home. Mullins then asked if he had any intention of reporting the incident, and he stated that he did not.

Upon arrival at the jail, Shelby did submit to a chemical blood draw, prompting Mullins to ask Shelby again if he had smoked any of the substance from the smoking device, and he changed his story to he had smoked earlier in the night. While Shelby was being booked into the jail, he was asked if he had anything illegal on him and reported that he did. He was asked what he had and he said “I have drugs in butt crack,” according to the report from the sheriff’s office. Mullins asked why he did not inform him when he asked. Shelby responded “because I was so high, and I didn’t want to go to jail.” During the strip search of Shelby, a glass jar container was found that contained a wax like substance, Shelby identified the wax as Cannabis oil.

Shelby, 24, 778 Owl Hole Gap Road, Rutledge, was charged with driving under the influence (DUI), failure to maintain lane, possession of schedule VI controlled substance and introduction or possession in penal institution. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/24/2023-6AM)

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