SHOALS — The Martin County Highway Superintendent was arrested over the weekend following a traffic stop that has led to both misdemeanor driving charges and a felony count of official misconduct.
However, the Martin County Prosecutor’s Office has only filed a charge of refusal to submit to a breath or chemical test, according to MyCase.
Scott Seals, 56, was booked into the Martin County containment facility at 11:38 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Jail booking documentation confirms he was taken into custody by local law enforcement and was subsequently released from custody on Sunday, June 28, pending formal court proceedings.
According to public booking records, Seals faces three separate criminal counts stemming from the Saturday night incident, including official misconduct, operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment, and OWI.
As the superintendent of the Martin County Highway Department, Seals holds a prominent public position. His day-to-day vocational duties include managing a municipal crew and overseeing the structural maintenance, paving, and emergency upkeep of hundreds of miles of rural county roads, bridges, and localized infrastructure projects throughout Martin County.
While official details surrounding the initial traffic stop remain limited, public scrutiny regarding the timeline of the arrest has begun to mount. WBIW received an email tip from a concerned local citizen alleging that Seals had been consuming alcohol on the clock prior to law enforcement intervening on Saturday night.
At the time of publication, neither the Martin County Highway Department nor local county administration officials had released a formal statement regarding the specific circumstances leading up to the arrest.
Authorities have not yet confirmed or denied the citizen’s allegations of on-the-clock drinking, nor have they clarified whether Seals was operating a county-owned municipal vehicle when he was pulled over.
The Martin County Prosecutor’s Office filed a summons on the charge of a charge of refusal to submit to a breath or chemical test on July 2.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
