Driver driving without license and insurance in possession of meth and drug paraphernalia

LAFOLLETTE, T (WLAF)- Driving with no tail lights recently cost a man a trip to jail. Around 1am on Sat., June 7, LaFollette Police Officer Dillion Marney saw a gray 2010 Volkswagen CC traveling on West Central Avenue with non-working taillights.

Officer Marney stopped the vehicle at 604 West Central Avenue, LaFollette, near Corner Market. As the patrolman was approaching the vehicle, he saw the driver of the VW, identified as Jay Arnold Pedrin, and the passenger making quick movements around the car. According to a report from the LaFollette Police Department, the passenger was messing around with his pockets several times. While Officer Marney was talking to Pedrin, he noticed that Pedrin appeared to be nervous and would not keep eye contact and continued to blink quickly.

Pedrin was asked for his license, registration and proof of insurance. He gave Officer Marney his registration, but reported he did not have a driver’s license on him and that he was in the process of getting it back. A check of Pedrin’s name with dispatch revealed his driver’s license was revoked.

Officer Marney returned to the Volkswagen and asked Pedrin if there was anything illegal inside it. Pedrin allegedly looked away and stated no. According to the report, when Marney asked specifically about Meth, Pedrin hesitated and looked near his steering wheel and replied no. The owner of the car was in the backseat. Officer Marney asked if she would consent to a search of the vehicle and she stated no.

Then Officer Marney requested K9 Sheriff’s Deputy Grace Tolliver for a K9 open air search. When Deputy Tolliver arrived with K9 Jago, all occupants of the vehicle were asked to step out of the Volkswagen and stand beside Officer Marney’s patrol car. K9 Jago alerted to the driver’s side door and passenger door. After the alert, Officer Marney began a probable cause search of the vehicle, and as he opened a storage compartment next to the left side of the driver’s steering wheel, he found a black bandana that contained a clear Meth pipe with residue.  Following the discovery of the bandana was pulled out, Officer Marney found a small pink and yellow vape containing a clear plastic baggie with approximately .08 grams of suspected Methamphetamines. Patrolman Marney asked the occupants of the car who the Meth pipe and the Meth belonged to, and Pedrin allegedly stated it was his.

Pedrin, 54, 387 McDeerman Road, Jacksboro was charged with possession/manufacture/sell/deliver schedule 2 (Meth), possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with license suspended/canceled/revoked, light law violation and failure to provide proof of insurance. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-06/23/2025-6AM)

Related