Judge Barry Steelman speaks to potential jurors during jury selection on Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2015, in Chattanooga.
Bryce Steelman, son of Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence Saturday afternoon.Bryce Steelman, son of Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence Sunday afternoon.
According to an arrest affidavit, a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper stopped Steelman, 21, just before noon after he clocked him speeding in front of the courthouse on Market Street and saw him cross the center line.
Steelman admitted to drinking 2 or 3 beers, the affidavit states, and the deputy also found two open bottles of Jack Daniels in his white Ford pickup truck. According to the affidavit, he failed to complete a field sobriety test and smelled like alcohol.
Steelman was charged with DUI, speeding, violating open container laws, financial responsibility and failure to signal a turn. He was booked into the Hamilton County Jail and was released on bond.
In a statement, Judge Barry Steelman said he doesn’t believe that the children of public officials should be subjected to the public scrutiny that comes with media coverage of their arrests.