STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — A local man is behind bars after deputies say he was found intoxicated and asleep behind the wheel.
On Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, a deputy with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) was patrolling Warrenton Road at approximately 4:19 p.m., when she came upon an SUV stopped at a red light at the intersection of Cardinal Forest Drive.
When the light turned green, the vehicle remained in place.
Upon further investigation, the deputy discovered the driver slumped over, with only his foot on the brake preventing the SUV from rolling into traffic.
She was able to wake the driver and instruct him to place the vehicle in park.
Although the man initially claimed he was simply tired, the deputy observed signs of intoxication and located an empty bottle of liquor inside the SUV.
Further investigation revealed the driver, identified as Thomas Wright, not only had a prior DUI conviction in 2023 but was also driving on a suspended license as a result.
Wright, 56, was charged with:
• Driving under the influence, second offense within five years
• Second offense refusal
• Driving after license forfeiture
• Stopping on a highway
He was transported to Rappahannock Regional Jail, where he is being held without bond.
