LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – There was added excitement and a sense of danger in the 3:00 o’clock hour Tuesday afternoon in and around Woodson Mall.

La Follette Police was dispatched to the area of Ellison Road, the street next to Burger King, on a call about a male in Carhartt Coveralls laying in the road. The caller described that the man was twitching with a radio speaker that seemed to the caller that the man was impaired.

LPD Sergeant Noah Riggs attempted to make contact with the man, later identified as Jesse James Lewis. That’s when Lewis ran and Riggs followed. The foot chase started at Burger King and continued across the four lane into Food City. The sprinters exited Food City, La Follette bound, and then ran down the mall hallways according to an eyewitness account.

Riggs was on the heels of Lewis who then entered 4EVER Nail & Spa. Lewis ran into the maintenance closet, climbed up the roof ladder and attempted to run across the drop ceiling. As the sergeant ordered Lewis to come down, Lewis did come down falling through the ceiling landing on the floor in the client service area of the business.

The event didn’t end there. The tiny Lewis, five-feet, eight weighing 100-pounds, got up, and tried to run. Riggs took him to the floor and made the arrest.

The 26-year old Lewis, of Eagle Bluff Road, Jacksboro, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, evading arrest and vandalism. He remains housed in the Campbell County Jail this morning without bond.

According to jail records, Lewis is unemployed and was arrested for the ninth time. One witness noted that Lewis had no form of identification on him. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/19/2021-6AM)

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