Shawn Eugene Austin

Concealed urine sample

     On Wednesday afternoon, September 25^th, the Sheriff’s Office made an unusual arrest at the Baxter County Court Complex.  SHAWN EUGENE AUSTIN, 36 years old of Midway, was taken into custody on a misdemeanor charge of Obstructing Governmental Operations after he attempted to substitute bottled urine for his own urine during a court-ordered drug screen.

     SHAWN AUSTIN was appearing before Circuit Judge Shawn Womack on a Contempt of Court proceeding.  As part of the proceeding, AUSTIN and another person connected with the case were ordered to submit to a urinalysis drug screen test while at the Court Complex. 

    A Probation Officer was assigned the task of escorting AUSTIN to the restroom so he could provide a urine sample.  During the second attempt to obtain a sample, the Probation Officer discovered that AUSTIN had concealed a plastic container of urine in his private area, which was duct-taped to his scrotum. 

     The Court Bailiff, Deputy David Estes, was summoned to assist, and he subsequently arrested SHAWN AUSTIN for Obstructing Governmental Operations after the completion of the court proceeding.

     SHAWN AUSTIN was transported to the Detention Center for booking and was released after posting bond in the amount of $240.  He will appear in District Court on October 13^th.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff