A Newton County teen was arrested for public drunk after officers saw him urinating on a tree next to Checkers.

Officers from the Covington Police were on routine patrol early Sunday morning when they saw the teen, later identified as Erik Shane Nelson. He was standing approximately 10 feet from the front of the business, where several people were in line ordering food.

According to reports "the male, with his genitals fully exposed to the patrons, as well as any traffic present on U.S. Highway 278, was urinating on the tree."
When Nelson saw the patrol car approaching he allegedly stopped what he was doing "mid-stream" and quickly walked away from the tree and toward the customers in line at the restaurant.

Officers approached Nelson in line and immediately noticed he reeked of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet. They also noted in reports that Nelson's eyes were red and bloodshot and that he had continued to urinate on his shorts.

Nelson reportedly told officers that he was 18 (they later verified that he was 19) and admitted to drinking. He was arrested and transported to the Newton County Detention Center where he was charged with public drunk.