Michelle Willard

Gannett Tennessee

SMYRNA — The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office has filed additional charges against the son of state Rep. Mike Sparks related to a man firing a gun at a beer truck Friday morning at a store on Old Nashville Highway, an official with the department confirmed.

Matthew Payton Sparks, 22, of Smyrna was charged Friday morning with DUI second offense and violation of the implied consent law, according to an arrest report filed by SPD Officer Kenneth Harless.

On Monday, the Sheriff's Office added two counts of aggravated assault and one count of vandalism to the list of charges.

Detective Troy Hooker said the new charges stem from an alleged aggravated assault of two Ajax Turner employees inside the truck and vandalism of the beer truck.

Deputy Michael Moody said the two Ajax Turner employees were waiting at about 4:30 Friday morning outside the Kountry Korner Market when a man walked up to the truck with a shotgun in his hand, Deputy Michael Moody said.

"He fired a shot from the shotgun that hit the side of the trailer" as the driver drove away, Moody said.

Hooker said Smyrna Police arrested Sparks for DUI shortly after the shooting. After the arrest, Sparks was developed as a suspect and charged.

Sparks is being held in Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. A hearing is set June 25 in General Sessions Court.

The DUI arrest followed a report of a handgun founds around 5:15 a.m. Friday at the Smyrna Bowling Alley, according to an arrest report filed with the Smyrna Police Department, SPD Officer Kenneth Harless reported.

Upon arrival, the complainant gave Harless a description of the suspects and a subject vehicle and said "the suspects did doughnuts in the parking lot and drove through the grass peeling out," Harless said.

As Harless and Officer Russell Edwards were conducting their investigation, a vehicle matching the description of the subjects' vehicle entered the parking lot and a white male, later identified as Sparks, exited and approached the bowling alley, according to Harless.

Harless said he and Edwards followed Sparks inside the business and spoke with him.

"While speaking with Mr. Sparks, I noticed he was unsteady on his feet, his eyes were bloodshot, and he had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person," Harless said.

Edwards then escorted Sparks outside where Sparks gave the officer consent to search his vehicle.

Harless said Edwards found, in plain view, "a single-shot shotgun that was lying in the back seat next to a box of shotgun shells."

Harless said he then conducted field sobriety tests on Sparks, who failed to complete them satisfactorily and said he took prescription drugs and dramk alcohol earlier in the day.

"Mr. Sparks stated he returned to the bowling alley to retrieve his phone and sober up," Harless said.

Harless arrested Sparks and charged him accordingly. During the arrest procedure, Sparks was informed of the Tennessee implied consent law, Harless said. The suspect failed to give consent, so the officer served a warrant for a blood alcohol content test at StonesCrest Medical Center.

The bond for Matthew Sparks was set at $4,500. He is scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m. today in Smyrna General Sessions Court.

Sparks is the son of Mike Sparks, the representative in the Tennessee House for Smyrna. Mike Sparks was first elected in 2011 to represent District 49. Prior to that he served on the Rutherford County Commission.

Mike Sparks is being challenged for re-election by current County Commissioner Robert Stevens in the August Primary for the Republican nomination. The winner of that race will face Mike Williams is the Democratic Party's nominee for the November General Election.

Mike Sparks could not be reached for comment.