LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – On Friday afternoon, LaFollette Police Capt. Steven Wallen issued a be on the lookout (a BOLO) for a maroon Ford Explorer. The vehicle was going south on South Tennessee Avenue and had driven through a traffic light on Central Avenue nearly causing an accident.    Officer Noah Riggs saw a vehicle matching the description at the intersection of South Tennessee Avenue and Beech Street. According to a report from the LaFollette Police Department, when the driver, who was later identified as John L. Muse, Jr., saw Riggs, he continued onto South Tennessee Avenue at a high rate of speed traveling south. During this time, Riggs paced the vehicle at 70 mph in a 30 mph zone. Riggs initiated lights and sirens, but Muse continued onto Claiborne Road for about a block and then turned east on East Woodland Court. He then allegedly drove the vehicle up an embankment and over some flower bushes. Muse then allegedly  fled into a residence at 105 East Woodland Court.

Officers found him in the home near the pool in a storage locker. When officers commanded him to come out and show his hands, Muse wouldn’t comply. Officers used OC spray to make him come out of the closet. When he came out, he attempted to elude officers, but was taken by force on a desk and refused to give officers his arms to be put in handcuffs. After a brief struggle, officers were able to place Muse under arrest.

Prior to being placed in the patrol car, Muse was searched. The search allegedly revealed a 1-cc syringe and two infant syringes with cotton filters in the syringes used for drug use. A records check revealed three outstanding warrants and a revoked driver license for DUI with one prior driving charge. When officers spoke with the owner of the vehicle, he stated  Muse must have stolen the vehicle earlier in the day.

Muse, 25, 105 East Woodland Courts, LaFollette is charged with felony evading arrest, resisting arrest, as result of DUI, traffic control device, speeding, driving while revoked, resist-stop-half-frisk-search, theft of property under $999.99 and possession of drug paraphernalia. This was the 13th arrest for Muse, based on jail records.

A bond of $100,000 was set for Muse, and he was released from the Campbell County Jail on Tuesday (October 29).  He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 7.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 10/31/2019-6AM)

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