CLAY COUNTY, NC. – A 55-year-old Hayesville man was arrested after a Clay County officer responding to a report of an unresponsive driver allegedly discovered multiple firearms and methamphetamine inside his vehicle.

According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Officer Donovan Burke responded to the Ingles parking lot in Hayesville around 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, after receiving a report of a man passed out behind the steering wheel of a gray Ford F-150.

Burke located the truck and identified the driver as Jessie Ray Guffey, 55, of Hayesville. While looking inside the vehicle, the officer noticed a long gun on the front passenger seat and an empty holster on Guffey’s belt.

When asked if he needed medical assistance, Guffey reportedly told the officer he was only taking a nap.

Burke was subsequently notified by Clay County Chief Deputy Tyler Faggard that Guffey was a convicted felon. The officer removed Guffey from the vehicle and placed him under arrest for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

During a search of Guffey, officers reportedly discovered two 9mm cartridges, a glass pipe wrapped in aluminum foil and a marble-sized ball of aluminum foil containing a crystal-like substance. The substance later field-tested positive for approximately 1.5 grams of methamphetamine.

A subsequent search of the truck resulted in the seizure of two additional firearms: a loaded 9mm semi-automatic Taurus pistol with a cartridge in the chamber and a break-action Springfield 20-gauge shotgun containing a live shell in its chamber.

Clay County Sgt. Corey Scroggs, Officer Chris Moral and Sheriff Mark Buchanan also responded to the scene and assisted with the investigation.

Guffey’s truck was towed from the parking lot for safekeeping.

Guffey was transported to the Clay County Detention Center and charged with felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and felony possession of methamphetamine.

Clay County Magistrate Dave West ordered Guffey held without bond.