LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – A LaFollette man was arrested on aggravated assault, resisting arrest and escape charges after he managed to break free of the back of a Campbell County patrol car and attempted to run officers over with it. 

According to a Campbell County Sheriff’s Department report, Jason Adam Garner, 40, was arrested on Fri., July 16 after he allegedly threatened a family member with a knife. 

According to law enforcement, Garner threatened his brother with a knife in a dispute about retrieving property. The victim called law enforcement who responded to the Clover Street address in LaFollette. However, deputies could not locate Garner as he had fled the scene. Later, Garner called 911 dispatch saying he wanted to talk to an officer. Deputies then responded to the 500 block of Beals Lane in LaFollette, where Garner’s cell phone was pinging as a location. Sheriff’s deputies heard Garner talking on his cell phone from a “cow pasture behind a residence on Beals Lane in LaFollette.”

Deputies entered the field from the other side and ordered Garner to show his hands. However, when deputies ordered him onto the ground, he did not comply. Deputies had to “use reasonable force” to get Garner on the ground and handcuffed. Garner was then walked to the patrol units and placed in the back of a patrol vehicle, which was parked at a residence on Lola Lane in LaFollette.

According to the sheriff’s report, after being placed in the patrol car, Garner “managed to free himself from the back of the patrol car, climb through the window in the cage of the patrol unit and get into the driver’s seat.” He then put the patrol vehicle in drive and drove towards deputies. McCall eventually “gained control of the defendant through the window,” stopping Garner from striking the other deputies. He was then placed in the back of the patrol car once again and transported to the county jail. While on the way to the jail, Garner managed to “slip” himself from his seatbelt and deputies had to restrain him once more before arriving at the jail. 

Garner was charged with aggravated assault by domestic violence, resisting arrest, three counts of aggravated assault, escape and theft of property $2,500 to $9,999. He has a court date set for August 10 at 9 am.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/26/2021-6AM)

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