SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) -- A member of the Hendersonville Fire Department was arrested for multiple charges, including assault on a law enforcement officer, following a traffic stop over the weekend.

According to a Sumner County affidavit, at approximately 12:45 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26, Deputy Alexander Poplawski was stationary at Exit 2 on Highway 386 in Hendersonville when he noticed a black SUV traveling 77 mph in a 65 mph zone. Poplawski followed the vehicle -- which had registration that expired at the end of August -- and reportedly saw it cross the dividing line multiple times

When the deputy performed a traffic stop on the SUV at mile marker 4.4, he noticed an alcoholic odor coming from the vehicle, as well as multiple open containers of alcohol inside, per the court documents. A woman with watery eyes was behind the wheel while the SUV's registered owner -- identified by officials as 28-year-old Jeylan Dunigan, a Hendersonville firefighter -- was in the passenger seat.

The driver and Dunigan reportedly told the deputy they were coming from Nashville. Poplawski requested the driver get out of the vehicle, which she did, and asked her how much alcohol she had consumed, but she said none, based on the affidavit.

Poplawski got the driver's consent to conduct a standardized field sobriety test, as described in the court documents:

I first conducted horizontal gaze nystagmus. I observed 4/6 clues. I observed [the driver] exhibit a lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes and distinct and sustained nystagmus in both eyes.

Next I conducted walk and turn. I observed 7/8 clues. I observed [the driver] fail to maintain balance during the instruction phase, miss hell to toe, step off the line, make an incorrect number of steps (11 on the first pass), stop while walking, use her arms for balance, and made an improper turn.

I then conducted one leg stand. I observed 2/4 clues. I observed [the driver] put her foot down 3 times and use her arms for balance.

When Poplawski inquired again how much alcohol the driver had consumed, she allegedly told him she had one shot of tequila around 8 p.m. According to the affidavit, the deputy asked the driver to rate herself "on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being so intoxicated she had no idea where she was and 1 being just a buzz," but she placed herself at a 1.

Given the information listed above, Poplawski took the driver into custody for driving under the influence and searched the vehicle, which led to the discovery of three bottles of liquor on the floorboards, per the court documents.

While Poplawski was talking with the driver, Dunigan reportedly started to approach him from behind, so Deputy J. Stanfill -- who was helping with the traffic stop -- ordered Dunigan to step to the front of the vehicle. Based on the affidavits, Dunigan ignored the commands, Stanfill took Dunigan's arm and started escorting him to the front of Poplawski's vehicle, Dunigan grabbed Stanfill's wrist and "applied force in a downward motion," Poplawski and Stanfill forced Dunigan to the ground, Dunigan stood up and assumed a fighting stance, and Stanfill deployed his electronic shock device to incapacitate Dunigan.

Once Dunigan fell to the ground, authorities said he complied and was taken into custody without further incident. He was brought to a Hendersonville emergency room so a doctor could remove the probe, and then he was transported to the Sumner County jail.

According to the court documents, since Dunigan is the registered owner of the SUV and allowed the woman to operate the vehicle while impaired, he was arrested for driving under the influence by consent, as well as assault against a law enforcement officer. In addition, he was cited for resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest, or search (non-violent).

Officials said Dunigan was released on a $3,000 bond. He is set to appear in court on Nov. 10.

Hendersonville Fire Chief Scotty Bush told News 2 that Dunigan -- who started working for the department in 2021 -- is on administrative leave, without pay, pending investigation.

No additional details were confirmed about the woman who was driving Dunigan's SUV.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/hendersonville-firefighter-accused-of-fighting-with-deputies-during-traffic-stop/