County Assistant Fire Marshal Under Investigation

TYLER – Smith County’s Assistant Fire Marshall Oren Hale is under investigation. He has been cited for failing to maintain a single lane of traffic. He could also be charged with having an open container in his vehicle. He was said to have a cup in the center console of his county fire marshal’s unit. It was said to have contained coke and bourbon. Sheriff’s deputies say, when they pulled behind Hale’s vehicle, they both saw what they described as pornography on the onboard computer monitor inside the vehicle. Smith County Fire Marshal Connie Wasson has ordered an investigation into the incident.

A report from the sheriff’s department says the deputies said Hale had difficulty maintaining a single marked lane of traffic. They also reported seeing his vehicle driving on the improved shoulder and then back into the designated outside lane of traffic.

According to a news release from the sheriff’s department, the incident was captured by onboard video and audio camera. It is not being released at this time, pending the results of the internal investigation. They said it will be available at some point subsequent to the investigation.