Hendersonville Police Sergeant Steven Wilson was arrested on Monday after speeding at 104 mph on Highway 386. During the stop, Wilson appeared intoxicated, with "bloodshot-watery" eyes and the smell of alcohol. He tried to force the deputy to turn off his body cam, grabbed at the camera, and took the deputy’s car keys in an attempt to flee. He faces charges of DUI, speeding, and assaulting a deputy, as reported by WSMV and The Tennessean.
The situation intensified as additional deputies arrived on the scene. "Based on the speeds he was traveling, his intoxication, and his action during the traffic stop, I believe that Mr. Wilson was a danger to himself and the public," the arrest affidavit stated. Wilson was taken to the ground, handcuffed, and then arrested. Findings of unopened alcohol in the suspect’s car further compounded the charges against him. A search of his car yielded two small bottles of Jack Daniel's and two unopened cans of White Claw, detailed in the arrest report, according to The Tennessean.
"Sgt Stephen Wilson was arrested for an alcohol-related offense by Sumner County Sheriff’s Department. He has been temporarily decommissioned and placed on leave pending a full internal investigation into the incident," according to the Hendersonville Police Department. Wilson's court date is set for January 24, and he has been released on bond. Authorities also reported that Wilson made suicidal comments while in jail. The Hendersonville Police Department is cooperating with the investigation, as noted by News Channel 5.
