A man charged with DUI missed his exit by 24 miles

A call to 911 alerted deputy to possible DUI driver

CARYVILLE, TN (WLAF)- Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputy Austin Stone answered the call of a white Honda Accord driving recklessly on I-75 heading north. Just before midnight, Friday, Deputy Stone staged his patrol car on the northbound entrance ramp of I-75 at the Exit 134 interchange. Soon Stone saw the Honda pass by in a northbound lane.

Stone then followed the white car to observe it. The car’s interior light was on, and the driver frequently braked following a semi-truck, and the Honda swerved into the right shoulder five times almost striking the guard rail, the deputy stated in his report. Stone conducted a traffic stop on the car at Mile Marker 136.

Upon approaching the car, the driver, later identified as Robert Pegler, still had his interior light on with his driver’s side window already rolled down. Pegler, with an unlit cigarette in his mouth, allegedly told the deputy that he was looking for his can of dip.

Elsewhere in his observation of Pegler, the deputy told in his report that Pegler was covered in sweat, his pupils appeared to be pinpoint, and that he acted lethargic.

Deputy Stone explained to Pegler the reason for the stop and then requested his driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance. Pegler allegedly handed the officer a bank card instead of a driver’s license prompting another request for the driver’s license.

While Pegler struggled to find his license, Deputy Stone saw Pegler’s ID in his phone case/wallet and pointed it out to him. After receiving the driver’s license, Stone told Pegler to continue looking for his other paperwork and he’d be right back after running the license through Central Dispatch.

Pegler’s driver’s license was valid, and the deputy returned to the car to see Pegler staring out the front windshield still holding the unlit cigarette in his mouth. Stone shined his flashlight into the Honda to alert Pegler he was back, and Pegler had still not found his other paperwork.

The deputy asked Pegler where he was coming from and where he was heading. Pegler allegedly stated that he was getting off work in Knoxville, and he was heading home to Powell. That prompted Stone to ask Pegler if he knew where he was. Pegler told the officer that he was about at the Emory Road Exit heading toward Powell, according to the police report. When Deputy Stone told Pegler that he was roughly 24 miles north from the Emory Exit (112), he appeared surprised.

Pegler agreed to perform a field sobriety test. At the end of the test and from how Pegler was operating his car, Stone had reason to believe that Pegler was driving under the influence.

Deputy Stone placed Pegler under arrest, placed him in the back of his cruiser and then began to search the white Honda.

Located in the white Accord was what appeared to be two Delta 8 THC wax containers within the center console. A crystal-like substance was located on the passenger seat inside of a teal L & M cigarette carton. The crystal-like substance later tested positive for meth by way of a Nark II, a narcotic analysis reagent kit, according to the arrest report. Also found were several needles, Suboxone strips and a prescription bottle of Gabapentin that belonged to Pegler, based on the report.

Pegler, 40, 1080 Lelay Lane, Powell, was charged with DUI, following too closely, driving on the right side of the roadway, violation of the implied consent law, possession of schedule II Meth with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver and possession of schedule III.

An October 7 court date awaits Pegler. Pegler was released from the Campbell County Jail on Monday afternoon on a $5,000 Recognizance bond, according to jail officials. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-09/30/2025-6AM)