Sen. Yager arrested for DUI, and hit-and-run
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Sen. Yager arrested for DUI, and hit-and-run
Scott County, representative Ken Yager arrested in Georgia on December 3rd while on vacation in Georgia resulting in heated backlash on social media and wide spread media attention.
By Chris Maney
State Senator Ken Yager, representative of District 12 which includes 9 total counties, faces a political crisis after being arrested and accused of a hit and run and driving under the influence in Georgia. He serves as the representative of Scott, Campbell, Fentress, Morgan, Clay, Macon, Overton, Pickett, and Roane counties.
Scott County News (SCN) was able to obtain the incident report from the Georgia Department of Public Safety through an open records request and found the following details: The report dated the incident on December 3, 2024 in Glynn County, Georgia. The reporting officer, York Cameron, was asked to be on the lookout for a white Ford Edge, which was alleged to be involved in an earlier hit and run. The officer located the vehicle in Jekyll market, parked improperly. While waiting for a driver to return, the Georgia State Patrol officer observed EMS assist a man who had fallen, but who was cleared by EMS and returned to the vehicle. The police officer identified the man as Ken Yager, who admitted to driving the white Ford Edge. The officer reported noting an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and a stumbling gait – the officer also stated that Yager “urinated on himself more than once” while detained. Ken Yager admitted to the officer having several glasses of wine. He also admitted to impacting another driver, though he told the officer that after talking to the other driver, he thought everyone was fine, and left the scene – without knowledge police were in route. Due to safety concerns the officer stated he initiated a field sobriety test. Details of the field sobriety test were noted in the report, and the officer detailed key suspicions for intoxication. Senator Yager was given a breathalyzer, which measured at 0.14BAC – almost twice the legal limit of 0.08. Yager was taken to custody by the reporting officer.
According to a media release from Glynn County detention center, Mr. Yager was charged with DUI-less safe driver, Hit and Run, and Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign. Charges accumulated a bond of $2,117, which was posted the following morning. It is believed the senator was on vacation in Georgia. Tennessee Lookout reports that the senator had used campaign financing to lease the Ford vehicle he was driving during the incident. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), in response to these claims called into question the senator’s use of campaign financing for the vehicle stating she was told that campaign financed vehicles could be purchased, “as long as it was driven for the job.” She asks, “what legislative business did Yager have on Jekyll Island?” on the X platform (formerly Twitter).
Mr. Yager issued a press statement in regard to the incident, published on December 4, 2024. Mr. Yager stated, “An unfortunate incident happened last night. On the advice of my attorney, I cannot discuss the particulars at this time. I am and will continue to cooperate with authorities to bring this incident to an appropriate conclusion.” SCN attempted to
reach out to his office for comment but has yet to get a response.
State Senator Ken Yager was the Republican nominee and victor of the 2024 election, pulling a sweeping margin of Scott County voters at 90%, retaining his seat until 2028. He has served in his elected office since 2008. Though, recent events have resulted in heated backlash against the representative on his social media – though it is unknown what it means for his state senate seat. As of now, his position as caucus chair seems to be in jeopardy, based on Tennessee Senate Rules adopted January 10, 2023. In section 85, titled, “A Code of Ethics for The Tennessee State Senate,” an indicted senator who is the chairman of a caucus may be entitled to a hearing of the Committee on Ethics to determine if the indicted senator is subject to suspension. If they fail to appeal to the committee within the allotted time frame, the senator who is indicted will undergo a suspension if the indictment is being pursued according to the standards.