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TOP PHOTO: Ronnie Wayne Lawson was arrested on Wednesday after leaving the scene of an accident that happened in April. He remains housed in the county jail this morning.
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Ronnie Wayne Lawson was arrested on Wednesday for the 33rd time since 1998, when computerized records began being kept, according to Campbell County Jail records. Police have been looking for Lawson since his latest encounter with the law stemming from an alleged hit and run last month. Campbell County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Cody Chapman says the incident happened on Easter Lane in La Follette on April 14.
Late Wednesday morning, CCSO Deputy Grace Cross was patrolling west on Jacksboro Station Road and noticed a black Ford Fusion heading east. As the car passed by the deputy, Cross noticed that it was Lawson behind the wheel of the Ford. Deputy Cross was aware Lawson had a revoked driver’s license, his 10th such charge based on jail records.
The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the car at the Jacksboro Tobacco Market next to the Boshears-Wood Bridge at Jacksboro Station. Deputy Cross learned through Central Dispatch that the license plate on the Ford Fusion Lawson was driving did not go with that car and that there was no insurance on the car. It was also discovered that there were three active warrants for Lawson’s arrest.
As Deputy Cross was getting up to speed on Lawson, Lawson had already exited the Ford and was attempting to go inside the tobacco market, according to the arrest report from the CCSO. The deputy instructed Lawson to stop and asked him for his date of birth. Lawson was placed under arrest and put inside Deputy Cross’s patrol car.
CCSO Sergeant Tosha Owens soon arrived to assist Deputy Cross. The sergeant alerted Lawson’s passenger to exit the car, because it was going to be towed.
Prior to the tow, Cross and Owens inventoried the car locating a small, black case with a clear rock-like substance believed to be methamphetamine, based on the report. The meth weighed approximately 12 grams. It was also reported that Sergeant Owens located a black scale in the driver’s side floor board with a clear rock-like substance.
Lawson, 59, 149 Poplar Lane, La Follette, remains housed in the county jail this morning without bond. His charges include driving on suspended/revoked, leaving the scene of an accident, violation of the Tennessee financial law, violation of the registration law, driving on revoked, possession of drug paraphernalia, meth and driving while in possession of meth. Lawson is due in court on May 16.
In 2022, jail records indicate that Lawson spent 219 days in jail on drug charges. Over his career, according to his four page inmate charge history, Lawson has faced an habitual motor vehicle offender charge eight times as well as, at least, five DUI charges, and two separate leaving the scene of an accident charges. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/05/2023-6AM)