Gallatin police officer Willie James Sharp, 43, of 1200 Woodvale Drive, was arrested in Hendersonville and charged with driving under the influence on Saturday, Dec. 26.
According to a Hendersonville police, Sharp was spotted driving “all over the road” just before midnight driving eastbound on Vietnam Veterans Boulevard near New Shackle Island Road.
“The vehicle sped up and slowed down while having the right turning signal on moving in the left lane,” according to the affidavit filed in Sumner County General Sessions Court.
According to Hendersonville police affidavit, Sharp admitted he’d had “one Jack and Coke drink around 7 p.m.”
Police found Sharp’s police –issued .45-caliber Glock pistol in his vehicle. Sharp was charged with possessing a handgun while under the influence, a Class A misdemeanor.
He had two flasks full of Jack Daniels whiskey and another 20-ounce water bottle with a whiskey and Coke mixture, police said. Sharp is also charged with violation of the open container law, and an implied consent violation after refusing a blood alcohol test, the police affidavit said.
Gallatin Police Chief John Tisdale said Sharp was off duty and driving his personal vehicle when the arrest was made.
Sharp was released on $1,500 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Sumner County General Sessions Court on Jan. 12 at 9 a.m.
Sharp has been suspended from duty without pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation, Tisdale said.
“We’ll deal with it just like we would with anybody else,” Tisdale said on Monday. “Police officers are not above the law.”
He has been a police officer with the Gallatin Police Department for approximately four years, according to Tisdale.
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