Hamilton County Jail Corrections Officer Damien Parker was found passed out drunk in his vehicle after failing to show up for work. His absence was a cause of concern for co-workers who went looking for him. They found him "unresponsive" behind the wheel of his vehicle. 911 was called and EMS workers had to break into the vehicle just to check on him after attempts to wake him peacefully failed.
The Chattanooga Police Department was among the agencies responding to the call. Their investigation led them to believe that alcohol was to blame for Parker's unconsciousness. They arrested him for driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUI) and took him to jail. He has since been released.
Parker was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.