Kingston leader charged with DUI

Kingston City Councilman Kevin Blaine McClure was charged with driving under the influence last week.

The Roane County Sheriff’s Office offense narrative said McClure, 44, of 1151 Brentwood Pointe, Kingston, was taken into custody on May 22 on Ladd Wright Road.

“My hope is it is all a big misunderstanding,” said McClure’s attorney, Tom McFarland.

“He’s a good man; he’s a leader in our community,” McFarland continued. “It is an unfortunate set of circumstances. It is a situation we’ll deal with as we learn more about the facts.”

The narrative said reporting officer Michael Self was dispatched to Hwy. 70 and Ladd Wright Road on a suspicious vehicle call.

Self reported he found the vehicle with its engine running and lights on in the middle of the roadway.

The officer reported seeing a clear bottle with a red cap in a brown paper bag in the vehicle’s right rear passenger seat.

Self’s report said he knocked on the window several times and McClure did not respond. Very loud music was playing in the car, he added.

The officer used his flashlight to knock out the window, and he reported that McClure slowly became conscious.

“I opened the door and ascertained that Mr. McClure was not diabetic and did not have any obvious medical problems,” his report said. “I immediately smelled an odor commonly associated with that of an alcoholic beverage on or about Mr. McClure’s person.”

Self said McClure used his vehicle for balance while exiting the vehicle, and while officers watched him, Self was given consent to search the vehicle and “discovered that the bottle in the paper bag was a large bottle of vodka” that was halfway full.

Self conducted field sobriety tests including the nine-step walk and turn test.

“During the instruction period for the nine-step walk and turn test, Mr. McClure was unable to stand heel to toe as described and demonstrated,” Self reported.

He also reportedly failed to follow simple instructions and had to have them made repeatedly.

Self reported during the test McClure did not walk heel to toe, did not count his steps properly, did not stop and turn on his ninth step in either direction, had to be told to stop and turn and did not walk in a straight line.

“During the one-leg stand, Mr. McClure was entirely unable to perform the test due to being so unstable on his feet. Mr. McClure was unable to stand on one leg for more than a few seconds at a time,” Self reported.

The narrative said Self was dispatched to the scene after a caller to 911 reported McClure’s vehicle had been sitting in the center of the roadway for 30 minutes and the driver wouldn’t respond.

The 911 caller expressed concern the driver might be having a medical emergency.

Self reported that he was informed by central dispatch that McClure had a previous DUI/DWI conviction.

A blood sample was taken from McClure at the detention facility.

McClure’s intake at the Roane County Jail was at 9:54 p.m. March 22. He was released about four hours later.

McClure declined comment when he was reached Friday.

“Any and all comments can be directed through my attorney,” he said.