Local Auto Dealer Employee Allows Test Drive—For Money, Marijuana?
By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—A Peppers Automotive employee who was caught reportedly allowing a McKenzie man to drive a company vehicle for an extended period of time—reportedly in exchange for money and marijuana—has not yet been arrested, but he most probably has lost his job by now.
The McKenzie man, Anthony Haynes, Jr., age 40, has been arrested by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The Assistant District Attorney is reviewing the case and Paris Police told WENK/WTPR this morning that more charges are pending although they declined to say who the charges will be filed against.
WENK/WTPR is withholding the name of the Peppers employee until charges are filed.
Paris Patrolman Jamie James responded to Peppers, which is located at 2420 E. Wood St., Paris, on a report of a stolen vehicle. Paris Police had been contacted by the THP about a missing vehicle from Peppers—a 2017 silver GMC Acadia. According to the police report, all the salesmen at Peppers said they did not have the vehicle out on a test drive.
The trooper told Paris Police he had tried to stop the vehicle and the vehicle had evaded him. He said the vehicle had a dealership tag and a Peppers sticker. The trooper further said the vehicle had evaded him in McKenzie on Hwy. 79 at Cedar St.
A check of Peppers’ employees found that one does live in McKenzie and that he was in trouble for letting Haynes use a vehicle for a long period of time. Peppers’ officials said one tag and one set of keys were missing.
According to the police report, the Peppers’ employee in question first denied knowing anything about the vehicle to police. With the help of OnStar, the vehicle was located on Gibson Lane near Enon Church Rd. The trooper then went to the address, found the vehicle, and took Haynes in custody. It also was determined that the Peppers’ employee lives on Enon Church Rd., according to the report.
James said in his report when he called him and identified himself as police, the employee hung up on him. He called later from the dealership and told the employee to meet him at the police station, where the employee was read his Miranda rights.
According to the police report, the employee said he had allowed Haynes to drive the car because he was a long-time customer. The employee denied however that he was being paid $150 a day and given marijuana in exchange for allowing Haynes to drive it, as Haynes had told the THP.
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