Sevier County constable Sammy Scott, was arrested by the Sevierville Police Department, on charges of driving under the influence (DUI). The incident occurred just before midnight on Wednesday, as detailed by WATE, when officers observed a vehicle driven by Scott failing to maintain its lane on Highway 66 near an Arby's Restaurant—the resultant traffic stop leading to his arrest.
Further complicating the narrative, according to an WVLT report, Scott was on the receiving end of another charge last year, failing to give aid after an accident. The newest charge against Scott, 65, marks a stark fall from grace for the constable who has served Kodak, a Sevier County community, for nearly two decades and was reelected, unopposed, in 2022.
During the arrest, Scott initially presented a credit card instead of his driver's license, despite the license being in plain sight, an arresting officer indicated. He performed poorly on a subsequent sobriety test as mentioned in a statement from the WBIR coverage. Post arrest, the constable was booked into the Sevier County Jail around 10:15 a.m. yesterday, having been taken to LeConte Medical Center for a blood test that preceded the DUI charge.
Despite the absence of a salary, and income stemming rather from court fees following arrests or citations, the role of constable vested Scott with significant authority and responsibilities akin to those of broader law enforcement. Such officers, as the WBIR report indicates, can arrest and write citations. He has since bonded out, pending a court appearance in September for the previously mentioned separate charge from last year.
