Union City man arrested in Martin on multiple charges
On Jan. 23 at 1:12 p.m., Patrolman Nicholas Combs with the Martin Police Department observed a black Chevrolet Silverado traveling west on University Street driven by 50-year-old Eric Lynn Choate. Combs had previous knowledge of Choate having active arrest warrants out of Fulton County for a failure to appear sentencing and failure to appear for probation revocation.
The vehicle pulled into Advanced Auto Parts and Combs made contact with Choate in the parking lot. Upon contact Combs asked Choate for his identification and he advised that he did not have any and that his name was John Anthony Choate with a date of birth of 08/08/1967. Combs identified him as Eric Choate and his driver’s license was found to have been suspended out of Obion County General Sessions for failure to appear on 01/23/2020. Choate also had had a registration plate displayed on his vehicle which proved to be stolen out of Greenfield.
While searching Choate, a glass smoking pipe was found in his right front pocket which Choate advised he used for smoking methamphetamine.
Patrolman Dalton Hahn with Martin Police Department came on scene and made contact with Choate due to possible warrants and, after making contact with the offender, he was positively identified as Eric Choate. On 12/03/2022 Hahn had come into contact with Choate who was issued a citation for animals running at large and identified himself as Mr. John Choate. After speaking with him it was determined that he was using someone else’s identity.
On Jan. 23 at 3:20 p.m. Investigator Sarah Turner with the Martin Police Department conducted a consent to search of the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado belonging to Choate while at Alpha Towing and Recovery. During the search Turner located a cylinder-shaped container that contained numerous hypodermic needles and 0.4 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. Some of the needles collected had been used. These were found in the bed of the truck inside a green backpack.
Choate was charged with criminal impersonation, stolen property, unlawful drug paraphernalia uses and activities, driving on revoked, suspended or canceled driver’s license, warrant of arrest for crime in another state-fugitive from justice and simple possession/casual exchange.
DISCLOSER: Information obtained came from the Martin Police Department affidavit provided by Patrolman Nicholas Combs, Patrolman Dalton Hahn and Investigator Sarah Turner.
