Atnip Caught Driving Drunk on Riding Lawn Mower

A Smithville man is in trouble with the law after he was caught allegedly driving drunk on a riding lawn mower late Saturday night on Riley Avenue.
42 year old Robert Roy (Bobby) Atnip, Jr. of Allen Ferry Road, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. He was further issued citations for possession of drug paraphernalia and for having an unauthorized vehicle on the roadway. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court June 28.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Saturday, June 2, an officer saw someone driving a riding lawn mower all over the roadway on Riley Avenue at 10:54 p.m. The deputy turned around and got behind the man, Atnip, and saw him run over a curb, and then come back into the roadway and stop. Atnip had a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was very unsteady on his feet. He submitted to but performed poorly on several field sobriety tasks. Atnip also submitted to a blood alcohol test. A needle and two spoons were found on Atnip.
According to Sheriff Ray, TCA 55-10-401 (Tennessee DUI Law) states that “It is unlawful for any person to drive or to be in control of any automobile or other motor driven vehicle on any of the public roads and highways of the state, or on any streets or alleys or while on the premises of any shopping center, trailer park, or any apartment house complex, or any other premises that is generally frequented by the public at large, while under the influence of any intoxicant”.
Meanwhile, in other cases 22 year old Tameika Danielle Gist of Quinland Lake Road, Algood is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court on June 7.
Sheriff Ray reports that on Saturday, June 2, a deputy responded to a domestic in progress at the Keystop gas station on Highway 56 north. When the officer arrived, he made contact with Gist and her boyrfriend. Gist said they got into a verbal argument after he arrived late to pick her up from work. Gist admitted to punching her boyfriend in the face. He had a red mark below his left eye. The officer determined that Gist was the primary aggressor.
26 year old Michael Andrew Snyders of West Main Street, Smithville is charged with violation of probation, evading arrest, and simple possession of a schedule IV controlled substance. His bond totals $6,000 and he will be in court June 7. He is being held without bond on the violation of probation and his court date on that offense is June 26.
According to Sheriff Ray, a deputy, while patroling on Highway 70 east Tuesday, May 29, spotted Snyders walking into the Eastside Citgo store. Having prior knowledge that Snyders had a violation of probation warrant against him, the deputy stopped, went inside the store, and placed Snyders under arrest. After putting Snyders in the patrol car, the officer went around to get in the vehicle. Snyders then opened a back door to the car, got out and fled on foot. The deputy caught up with Snyders about 100 yards away and handcuffed him. During the arrest, the officer noticed Snyders trying to put a small brown medicine bottle into his front pocket. The deputy retrieved the bottle and found nine green round pills, believed to be Clonazepam, a schedule IV drug.
37 year old Travis Payne Pinkerton of Gassaway Road, Woodbury is charged with a third offense of driving on a revoked license. He was also issued a citation for misuse of registration. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court June 7.
Sheriff Ray said that a deputy stopped Pinkerton’s vehicle on Highway 70 west last Monday, May 28 for a registration violation. The driver, Pinkerton, told the officer that he did not have a license. A computer check confirmed that Pinkerton’s license were revoked for prior offenses in Wilson and Chester counties. Also, he said the license tag on Pinkerton’s vehicle was for another automobile.