Drunk Country Singer George “The Possum” Jones arrest

MAY 26, 1982
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- Country singer George Jones resisted arrest and tried to kick a news cameraman, then was taken to jail and charged with driving while under the influence of an intoxicant, police say.

Jones, 50, was arrested Tuesday on Interstate 65 south of Brentwood after the Tennessee Highway Patrol spotted his gray 1982 Cadillac in south Nashville weaving toward Williamson County. A half-empty bottle of whiskey was found in the car.

Jones was taken to Williamson County Jail in Franklin, where he was held while waiting for $500 bond to be posted. His car was impounded in Franklin.

Brentwood police intercepted Jones, whose car was unlicensed except for a cardboard, hand-lettered plate that read 'Possum 3,' a reference to Jones' nickname.

Brentwood police dispatcher Calvin Hullett said Jones 'wandered down the interstate about a mile' while officer Tommy Campsey tried to get the singer to pull over. Campsey said Jones was not attempting to escape and seemed to be too intoxicated to care.

Jones was alone in the car when he was arrested at about 7 p.m. CDT. Campsey reported he was rowdy and tried to kick a television news cameraman in the groin.
Hullett said no special provisions were made for Jones, who 'quietened down' after being put in the holding cell. He said Jones would 'raise hell a while, then laugh a while' before he finally calmed down.

Jones had legal trouble recently in Mississippi, where he was arrested for driving under the influence and posession of cocaine. He then wrecked his car on the way to his Muscle Shoals, Ala., home and was hospitalized in Birmingham the next day, March 29.

Jones was treated for alcoholism and drug abuse in the Birmingham hospital, but is said to have relapsed soon after being discharged.

Jones is one of country music's most enduring performers, whose hits span from the 1950s to the present and include his current single, 'Same Ole Me.'

[stephanie.steph]

The cop: “You ain’t gonna mess with him, alright?”
George: 😈😃

That part gets me everytime 🤣

[georgewashington]

Good cop, he knew who he was and probably was a fan but still obeyed the law🍻

[PileOnPileOffPileUpOnThe]

He's not going after the cameraman he's going after the duck.

[jim.matheny]

The photographer was on the scene because they monitor police scanners. If you look up old articles about the arrest, there was a lot of radio communication because a State Trooper spotted the swerving car from the opposite lanes and called Brentwood Police for assistance. This is all south of Nashville. When the cops caught up to his car, Jones didn’t immediately pull over. The Brentwood, Tenn., officer said he turned on his siren and flashing lights and followed for about two miles as the car weaved across the road three times before pulling to the side of the interstate. That was during a bad spell for Jones when he was arrested three times within a couple of months for this DUI, a DUI in Mississippi with cocaine possession, and crashed his car in Alabama. He’s lucky he didn’t get killed that day or kill someone else.

[tomkelsey]

Congrats George, you were the first contestant to appear on "Cops"

[countryman]

The way George smiles right at the cop at 0:17 after the other cop JUST said not to mess with him is so funny 😂😂

[tazman]

George Jones got his liquid courage LOL!

[DonJuanTD]

Sometimes possums find fallen berries that may or may not be fermented. It's instinctual. Just leave the ol' boy alone.

[davedarling]

they need to make a biopic starring jim carrey

[AnAdorableWombat]

He's like the white James Brown 😂😂

[MattHatcher-ov]

The world was a different place and different time.

[fontz]

I love that he never bragged about who he was

[AndrewR.]

The cop should be arrested for arresting George jones

[gpbret]

He should have made a song about this incident. Had all the elements… alcohol, jail, police, etc.

[stacyward]

Why was it so much different? Less people on the road? I remember the cops just pouring it out and sending you home.

[kepler]

Things were a little different back then.

[LeslieStephens-zfgd]

he was human that's all, they have hard times too I've been listening to him since I'm was born I' still listen to him !!
I dont like it when they exploit human beings like this just cause he's one of the greats!!

[bigreed]

I'm guessing the exact location is just south of the Concord Road exit on I-65 given the lay of the land and the way the events are described in the video description. The area looks vastly different now, as I-65 is now eight lanes through here.

[gfunk]

See?! He still calls the officer sir because he’s respectful and kicks the camera guy because camera guy was being disrespectful. It don’t get no mo country than that.

[lilspliffster]

Ok let’s get this straight I trust George driving drunk more than I trust him driving sober.. just ask the duck that follows him around