LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – It was 11am Sunday when La Follette Police Officer Anthony Mahar watched Christopher Powell get behind the wheel of a Ford Taurus. Officer Mahar had prior knowledge that Powell’s drivers license was suspended.

TOP PHOTO: La Follette Police followed a gray Ford Taurus into the parking lot of the apartment complex suspecting the driver was driving without a license.

The officer observed Powell pull out and make a left turn onto North 5th Street. Powell pulled in to an apartment complex parking lot with Mahar pulling in behind him with his cruiser’s emergency lights activated.

Powell allegedly got out of the Ford and started to walk away. Officer Mahar ordered Powell to come back, and he did so with his arms moving in an uncontrolled manner and was talking at a fast pace, according to the police report.

Officer Mahar told Powell that he was stopped for driving without a license, and Powell allegedly said he had not been driving and that he had a licensed driver driving. Mahar told him he saw him drive into the parking lot, and Powell then said that that was the only time he had been driving, based on the report.

After allegedly noticing Powell’s pupils were constricted and glassy, he agreed to perform a field sobriety test. Officer Mahar described Powell’s performance as poor showing two of four clues.

Powell was placed under arrest and stated the he did not want to talk or answer any questions, and he then said he would not give a blood sample.. Powell told Officer Mahar to go ahead and take him to jail.

Charges levied against Powell include DUI, violation of the implied consent law and second offense of driving on a revoked license. Powell has a court date set for June 18 and remains housed in the Campbell County Jail. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 06/04/2024-6AM)

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