Clayton Town Employee Arrested For DWI

A Town of Clayton employee was arrested after police were called to a report of a man with a gun in the parking lot of a convenience store on Sunday.

Just after 8:00 AM, Smithfield Police responded to Holley’s Open Air Market on South Brightleaf Boulevard for a report of a person having a weapon. Police Captain T.S. Choe said two people were engaged in a verbal dispute when one of the men, 56 year-old Ronnie Decala Watson of West Street, Smithfield, allegedly pulled a rifle out of his trunk and placed the weapon in the passenger area of his car. He left the parking lot in a BMW but was stopped by police a short distance away on South Fifth Street.

Police said Watson registered 0.09 on the Breathalyzer. He was charged with DWI and released pending a September 6th court appearance. There were no charges related to the gun incident, however, officers did seize a Marlin .35 caliber rifle found in Watson’s possession.

Watson is a street maintenance worker with the Town of Clayton. John Hamlin, Assistant Public Information Officer for the Town of Clayton, said town officials are currently reviewing the incident.