The holiday season is fast-approaching. Which means up come the tree farms, open up the Santa’s Villages, and festoon the lights. In the season of celebrating, however, sometimes people can reach the celebration stage a little early. A Tennessee man was arrested over the weekend for driving a Santa Train under the influence.
40-year old Henry Meade was driving a Santa Train for the town of Tazewell’s Christmas Tractor Parade. In other words, pulling carts filled with children and families with a rider mower. But patrons of the holiday train said that Meade was behaving strangely as he drove them. Described as unsteady on his feet, was enough to alert local officers in the area.
A sobriety test revealed that Meade was under the influence. Upon being taken into custody, police also found meth, a syringe, and several other narcotics on Meade’s person. The chief of police and the mayor of Tazewell released a joint statement, explaining that the vendors for the Christmas event are independently contracted. Not hired by the city. So Meade’s habits were not known at the time.
“Despite this, the Tazewell Police Department responded swiftly to the incident, ensuring the safety of event attendees,” a statement about the situation reads. “The rapid action taken by our law enforcement underscores our commitment to public safety. It is important to note that in a 1/8 mile radius on Main Street during the event we had 14 police officers on foot patrol for several thousands attendees. Public safety is paramount on any day at any time and this event was no different.”
Hopefully, other similar holiday offerings don’t have the same problems.
