200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

17-008355 (Morning Arrest)

17-008405 (Afternoon Crash)

17-008406 (Afternoon Arrest)

On April 13, 2017 at approximately 7:30 AM, an officer assigned to the Kingsport Police Department Traffic Unit was traveling westbound on Main Street in Downtown Kingsport, when he noticed a green Ford Ranger pickup weaving back and forth ahead of him. The pickup crossed the double yellow line on two separate occasions and the officer observed that the driver appeared be looking down at something in his lap rather than watching the roadway ahead.

A traffic stop ensued, during which the driver presented a TN Identification Only card, identifying himself as Justin Wayne Porter. Mr. Porter told the officer that he had been attempting to send a text message to his employer to tell him that he was going to be late. Further investigation revealed that Mr. Porter’s driver license was revoked as a result of a total of three previous convictions for Driving Under the Influence. He also could not provide proof of insurance.

He was arrested for Driving on a Revoked License, Texting While Driving, Driving Left of Center, and Violation of Financial Responsibility Law (No Insurance) and transported to the Kingsport City Jail. Mr. Porter was later released approximately two hours later after posting bond.

That same afternoon, at approximately 4:00 PM, Mr. Porter was traveling north on Clinchfield Street near Sullivan Street, still in Downtown Kingsport, in the same green Ford Ranger pickup, when he rear-ended a Ford E-350 van. The van in question was a prisoner transport van owned and operated by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office. The van was loaded with two SCSO deputies and eleven prisoners on a routine transport between the Kingsport Justice Center and the Sullivan County Jail in Blountville.

Kingsport Police Patrol Officers responded to the scene to investigate. Officers noticed that Mr. Porter appeared disoriented and exhibited several common indicators of impairment to include glazed bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. He performed poorly on a subsequent series of field sobriety tasks. He did not appear injured and declined any medical attention.

Mr. Porter was arrested for Driving Under the Influence (4th offense), Driving on a Revoked License, Following Too Closely, and Violation of Financial Responsibility Law (No Insurance). He was transported to the Kingsport City Jail. Mr. Porter later refused to submit to a Legal Blood Chemical test, netting the additional charge of Violation of Implied Consent.

A Legal Blood Chemical sample was later collected anyway after a search warrant was obtained by the arresting officer. That sample will be forwarded to the T.B.I. Crime Laboratory for analysis. Mr. Porter remains confined in the Kingsport Jail awaiting arraignment.

Mr. Porter’s earlier arrest for Driving on Revoked License occurred just over a week ago on April 5th at the Roadrunner Market, located at 120 West Stone Drive. In that incident, Kingsport Police Patrol Officers were responding to a complaint of a reckless driver when they observed Mr. Porter sitting in the driver’s seat of the same green Ford Ranger pickup, in the act of scratching off lottery tickets. At the time of this arrest, the keys were in the ignition and he was the sole occupant of the pickup, clearly establishing that he was in physical control of the vehicle.

33 Years of Age

Kingsport, TN

1) Driving on Revoked License

2) Texting While Driving

3) Driving Left of Center

4) Violation of Financial Responsibility Law (No Insurance)

Afternoon Incident

1) Driving Under the Influence (4th Offense)

2) Violation of Implied Consent

3) Driving on Revoked License

4) Following Too Closely

5) Violation of Financial Responsibility Law (No Insurance)

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit