The patrol cruiser assigned to Roane County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Gary Nelson was struck by another vehicle on Interstate 40 earlier this month. Chief Deputy Tim Hawn said Nelson wasn’t injured in the incident.
“He wasn’t even in the car,” Hawn said. “He was outside directing traffic.”
The incident was investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The man who allegedly struck the patrol cruiser was identified as Oscar Delfino Perez-Sebastian. He was arrested and taken to the Roane County Jail.
“The defendant was traveling on I-40 WB (westbound) near the 360 mm (mile marker) when he struck the deputy’s patrol car while it had emergency equipment on,” a warrant filed by Trooper Seth Candau said. “I was already working a crash with injuries at the 360 mm and ran down to this scene.”
The trooper said Perez-Sebastian had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person.
“The defendant did perform SFSTs (standardized field sobriety tests) at the Roane County Jail in the sallyport,” the warrant said. “The defendant showed multiple clues of impairment.”
Perez-Sebastian encountered more trouble during the booking process at the jail.
“While patting him down, when I came to his pants, I brushed my hand across his left pocket and felt something inside,” a separate warrant filed by Roane County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Aaron Tuggle said. “I then proceeded to remove the contents from his pocket and discovered a small baggie with a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine.”
The baggie weighed approximately 0.86 grams.
Perez-Sebastian, 25, is facing charges of DUI, implied consent, reckless endangerment, introduction of contraband into a penal facility, tampering with evidence and methamphetamine — manufacture, delivery, sell, or possession. He was still in custody at the Roane County Jail on Tuesday.
