LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – LaFollette Police Officer Anthony Mahar was on patrol on Fri., Sep. 8 when he noticed a 2004 White Hyundai traveling on West Walden Street making a left turn onto North 5th Street without coming to a stop at the stop sign. Mahar stopped the vehicle, ran a check on the tag, and dispatch informed Officer Mahar that the tag was not on file.

Mahar made contact with the driver of the vehicle, Jacob Lee Steakley, and informed him why he was stopped to which Steakley replied that he did not mean to. When asked for the vehicle’s information, Steakley reported that he did not have the vehicle registered, stating that the tag was off of his mom’s car. Officer Mahar then asked for proof of insurance, and Steakley reported that he did not have insurance on the vehicle. When he was asked for his drivers license, he reported that they were broken, and he didn’t have them with him.

Steakley was asked to get out of the vehicle and walk back to Officer Mahar’s patrol car. While talking with Steakley, Mahar asked him if he had anything illegal in the vehicle, and he stated nothing that he knew of. He was then asked if he had anything illegal on him, and he reported that he had a bag of stuff on him. Stating that was in his wallet Mahar removed Steakley’s wallet and found two clear bags that contained a white crystal substance that Steakley reported was Methamphetamine. Inside his wallet was also half of a Suboxone strip that he had a prescription for.

After observing Steakley, Officer Mahar suspected that he was on some kind of illegal substance. Mahar asked Steakley when the last time he used any illegal substance was, and he allegedlystated around noon that day. Steakley was given a field sobriety test on which he performed poorly, and he was placed under arrest and transported to the Campbell County Jail.

Steakley, 22, 1108 Rose Hill Drive, LaFollette was charged with driving under the influence (DUI), possession of schedule II controlled substance, traffic control device, violation of TN financial law, violation registration law, driving on revoked/suspended and violation implied consent law. Steakley remains housed in the Campbell County Jail this morning on a $6,500 secured bond. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 09/18/2023-6AM)

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