CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – A Chattanooga man, Jason Battles, was arrested early Saturday morning after a car crash, facing multiple charges including DUI, drug possession, and tampering with evidence, according to the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD).
Battles, who has a history of over four DUI convictions, was involved in a wreck in the 6400 block of Grubb Road. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Battles eating fast food from the passenger seat. Initially, he told officers that he had left a friend’s house but later changed his story, saying he came from the gym.
Despite having bloodshot eyes and showing signs of impairment, Battles denied being intoxicated. Officers found two opened alcoholic beverages at the crash site and performed a Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, which showed multiple signs of nystagmus—a condition linked to intoxication. Battles was arrested for DUI.
As officers transported him to the Hamilton County Jail, Battles began moving in the back seat of the police car, and officers detected the smell of marijuana. After pulling over to investigate, they discovered a Xanax bar where Battles had been sitting. During a full body search, multiple Xanax and oxycodone pills fell from Battles’ person, prompting him to attempt to destroy the evidence by stepping on the drugs.
Battles became combative and refused to get back into the police car. Officers, with the help of deputies from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, used pepper spray to subdue him and get him into a different vehicle.
Battles now faces several charges, including:
Tampering with evidence
Resisting arrest
Possession of a controlled substance (Xanax and oxycodone)
Failure to maintain lane
DUI
Violating Tennessee’s implied consent law
The arrest adds to Battles’ extensive criminal history, further escalating the seriousness of his current charges.
