Man allegedly tells police he did not have any paperwork and was here as an illegal immigrant

LAFOLLETTE-JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- A late night La Follette Police pursuit started close to the Weir Woods cut across and ended with an arrest on the west end of Jacksboro. Around 10pm Friday, La Follette Police Sgt. Anthony Mahar was dispatched to Jacksboro Pike regarding a 911 call about a reckless driver.

When the sergeant spotted a swerving 2003 Nissan pick-up truck crossing the center line and the right fog line, he called in the tag number. Once he heard back from dispatch, Mahar turned on the emergency lights and informed dispatch that he was no longer in the City of La Follette and requested a Jacksboro Police Officer or Campbell County Deputy to meet him at the traffic stop.

The driver of the Nissan took about a half-mile to come to a stop, the LPD report said. Just past Jacksboro Middle School, beyond Myers Lane, Mahar made contact with 46-year old Omar Suarez, the person behind the wheel of the truck.

Mahar said Suarez had watery eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath when he spoke. The sergeant noticed an open beer can in the driver’s cup holder, according to the police report.

“I asked Suarez how much he had drank, and he told me ‘none’,” stated Mahar in the report. “I then asked him about the open container, and he looked at the can, then looked back and shrugged his shoulders,” the sergeant noted in his narrative.

Jacksboro Police Officer James McCall and Deputy Grace Cross-Tolliver arrived and Mahar began the standardized field sobriety test. Suarez did not perform well on the test, based on the report.

Suarez, 46, Louisville, Tennessee, was placed under arrest and charged with DUI, violation of the lane law and driving without a license.

A Thursday court date awaits Suarez who is being housed this morning in the Campbell County Jail on a $3,000 secure bond.(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-08/27/2025-6AM)

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