"Jammer" Placed On Unpaid Leave At Talk Radio

Afternoon Personality Gets Second DUI Arrest

  • Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Jammer
Jammer

Jay "Jammer" Scott, afternoon Talk Show host on WGOW, has been placed on unpaid leave after getting his second DUI arrest in eight months.

The radio personality, whose real name is Scott Riseman, was arrested Monday about 8 p.m. in front of Ganns-Middle Valley Elementary School.

He was charged with DUI, an open container violation, possession of a controlled substance and consuming an alcoholic beverage on school property.

Riseman made a $3,000 bond at 1:44 a.m. and he was released from the County Jail about 3 a.m.

Dan Brown, WGOW station manager, released a statement on the air just before noon Tuesday.

He said, "Jay Scott Riseman (The Jammer) was arrested Monday, Oct. 20. It was his second DUI in eight months.

"Jay put himself and others at risk. This action was clearly intolerable.

"WGOW management has placed Jay on unpaid leave effective immediately. We are encouraging Jay to seek a medical solution to his problem during this period.

"We wish him well and hope that Jay will return to the air on WGOW."

A report of the incident said Officer Donnie Myrick saw a suspicious vehicle at the school at 1607 Thrasher Pike. It says a male was in the vehicle with the parking lights on.

It says the car pulled off as the officer came up behind it. The car was stopped after the officer turned on his blue lights.

Officer Myrick said Riseman immediately got out of the car and came back to his vehicle. He said he had him step back into his car. He said he "staggered back."

The officer said when he went up to the car "I could smell a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from him." He said his speech was slurred and thick.

Officer Myrick said he saw what appeared to be the top of a beer can in the floorboard. He said Riseman failed several field sobriety tests, almost falling down during the testing.

He said there was a partially empty Bud Lite bottle in the car and a pill bottle with pills. He said the pills were sent to the lab. The report says the alleged controlled substance in the vehicle was hydrocodone - a painkiller.

His court date in General Sessions Court is Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m.

Riseman had stayed on the air after his first DUI arrest. That case was bound to the Grand Jury after a hearing.

Both arrests were by sheriff officers.

He has been strongly critical of the sheriff's office, but recently had Sheriff John Cupp on as a guest.

Bill Lockhart, WGOW news director, said veteran broadcaster Garry Mac will fill in for Jammer through the fall ratings period. He was on the air Tuesday afternoon and received a call from Jammer, who said he appreciated the support of listeners.

WGOW has recently (at least temporarily) lost two of its top draws - Jammer on FM and Rush Limbaugh on AM.

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