Man Charged With DUI While Driving ‘Santa’s Train’ for Kids at Christmas Event in Tennessee: Police

A man in Tennessee was arrested after he allegedly drove a ride for children while under the influence during a Christmas event, according to authorities.

Henry Meade, 40, recently was conducting “Santa’s Train,” a motorized lawn mower used to pull carts full of children and their families, at the Christmas Tractor Parade, according to the Tazewell Police Department.

During the event, attendees began to notice Meade allegedly was acting erratically and they alerted police officers about his behavior, officials said.

Responding officers noticed Meade appeared unsteady on his feet, and a field sobriety test determined he allegedly was under the influence, authorities said.

When Meade was arrested, police said officers allegedly found a syringe, meth and several other narcotics on him.

He was charged with driving under the influence, possession of methamphetamine, and other drug charges.

Never miss a story — sign up for the Front Page Detectives newsletter. Be on the scene the moment news breaks.

In a statement, Tazewell Mayor Bill Fannon and Chief of Police Jeremy Myers said Meade was not hired by the city for the parade since vendors are independently contracted. They added that the “Tazewell Police Department responded swiftly to the incident, ensuring the safety of event attendees.”