Fort Oglethorpe police arrested a Ringgold man after they allegedly found him passed out from drug use in a vehicle that was sporting a stolen tag.

According to the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department:

Jerry Michael Card, 46, of Clover Drive in Ringgold was arrested on Friday, Jan. 4, on charges of DUI (drugs), drugs not in original container, theft by bringing stolen property into the state, driving while suspended, and violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act (VGCSA). His bond was set at $17,500.

Just before midnight on Thursday, Jan 3, Fort Oglethorpe officers responded to an unrelated incident at the Cloud Springs Lodge at 584 Pine Grove Access Road when they observed a vehicle parked near the lodge entrance with the interior lights on.

“I drove by the vehicle and noticed that the driver was slumped over into the passenger seat,” officer Michael Fergerson said. “When I knocked on the window the driver woke up, stated that he was okay, and said that he had simply pulled over for a minute after getting sleepy while driving home. While I was asking him questions, he appeared to be confused.”

Card was disoriented and stated that he thought he was on Lee Highway in Chattanooga, Tenn., while also admitting to taking Alprazolam for a heart condition, reports show.

“He stated that he was taking the Alprazolam for his heart rhythm, and said that he was taking one pill three times a day,” Fergerson said. “When I asked for his driver's license, he produced an identification card. When I asked him why he did not have a driver's license, he stated that his license were suspended.”

Dispatch ran a check and confirmed Card's license was indeed suspended, and also informed officer Fergerson that the tag on the green 2000 Ford Taurus Card was driving was reported stolen out of Bradley County, Tenn., reports show.

“I asked him about the tag, and he stated that he did not know where it came from or how it got on the vehicle,” Fergerson said. “When asked who the vehicle belonged to, he stated that it was his mother's who had passed away in 2011. He stated that he drove the vehicle every once in a while when he needed to go somewhere.”

Card then failed field sobriety tests that were administered to him, reports show.

“While searching him, I located a pill bottle in his left jacket pocket,” Fergerson said. “The bottle was the offender's and was supposed to contain Alprazolam, but when I looked in the bottle, I noticed some white pills mixed in with the Alprazolam.”

Card was then placed under arrest and taken to Erlanger at Hutcheson for blood testing before being transported to Catoosa County jail without incident.