November 23, 2015 - The Center Fire Department was dispatched to a vehicle on fire Sunday, November 22, 2015 just over two miles south of Loop 500 on U.S. 96 South.
Center Police officers and a Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy also responded to the call. When the emergency personnel arrived at the scene, any threat of fire involving the vehicle was curbed. Although it appeared the vehicle, a maroon Mercury Grand Marquis, had crashed into a tree, it had only driven up to the tree striking it at a slow speed causing no apparent damage.
Evidence at the scene indicated the vehicle had crossed over onto the southbound side of the roadway and traveled on the shoulder before leaving the road to the left. Once the vehicle was against the tree, the accelerator was depressed, revving the vehicle high enough the exhaust pipe caused the grass below the Mercury to ignite and stripping the tread off the right rear tire.
It was determined at the scene, the driver was intoxicated and was placed under arrest. As the officers searched the vehicle, two cigarettes suspected to be soaked in PCP (Phencyclidine) were recovered as evidence.
According to the Shelby County Jail arrest report Melton Garrett, 38, of Shelbyville was arrested by Deputy Chris Benton and charged on November 22, 2015 with possession of a controlled substance - felony 3.
