Gray woman charged with DUI at house fire

An investigation into a suspicious structure fire late Thursday afternoon in Knox County resulted in the arrest of a Gray woman on an unrelated DUI charge, according to a Knox County Sheriff’s Department release.

About 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 2, Knox County deputies responded to a complaint about a suspicious structure fire on Avalon Drive in Gray. While deputies were at the residence conducting a neighborhood canvas, a red 2009 Pontiac Grand Am pulled into the driveway of the residence, the release stated.

“When the driver saw deputies, she backed out of the driveway at a high rate of speed. Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop but the driver refused to stop,” according to the release.

Deputies finally stopped the vehicle on Stone Cove Road and arrested the driver, Debbie J. Jackson, 47, of Gray, charging her with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (methamphetamine), reckless driving and second-degree fleeing or evading police. Jackson was also wanted on three Knox County bench warrants for failure to appear, the release stated.

She was lodged in the Knox County Detention Center, but has since been released.

She is scheduled for a pretrial conference on March 21 in Knox District Court.