Sgt. Chad Payne is information officer for the Dade County Sheriff's Office.
On Oct. 18, at approximately 3 p.m., Dade County deputies were dispatched to a property damage call in the area of Sunset Drive on Lookout Mountain. While responding to that call, a deputy was flagged down in the area and advised that there was a male driving a red SUV in the area who appeared to be intoxicated and who was also throwing beer bottles out the window of the vehicle.
While in the area, the deputy located a vehicle matching the description in the roadway at the intersection of Plum Nelly and Sunset. After approaching the vehicle, the deputy observed several signs of open alcohol in the vehicle, and also a very strong odor of alcohol coming from the driver. The driver was removed from the vehicle and arrested.
After placing the driver into custody, the deputy found him to be in possession of a "sawed-off" shotgun and ammunition.
The driver was transported to the jail by another deputy, and the initial dispatched deputy continued to the original call location. After arriving at the initial call location, the deputy determined that the intoxicated driver had also been at that location. There were items in the area that appeared to be damaged by a shotgun.
The suspect, Michael C. Abbott, 57, of Rising Fawn, is currently out on bond. He is charged with
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Use of a Sawed-Off Shotgun
Simple Assault
Open Container Violation.
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