A co-owner of a firm planning to build a distillery in downtown Chattanooga has been charged with being drunk and disorderly. Joe Ledbetter, 34, was also charged of making threats against a city police officer.

In the incident on Sunday at 3:05 a.m., police said Ledbetter emerged from Hill City Pizza on Frazier Avenue.

An officer said he approached him an other officers while asking for assistance in getting a cab to take him home.

The officer said he immediately detected a very strong odor of alcohol from Ledbetter and noted that he had very slurred speech.

He said Ledbetter was advised of several cabs that were on the street corner near him, but he "began to speak very loudly and insulting officers."

The report says people nearby began to stop and watch what was going on, and that Ledbetter was told he was disturbing other citizens.

The officer said Ledbetter continued to cause a scene. He said he was arrested after he said he was going to walk to his home on Jefferson Street south of East Main Street.

At the jail, the officer said Ledbetter told him he would not forget him, and warned, "I'm going to (expletive) you up."

Ledbetter is charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct and threatening retaliation against an officer.