Police forced to draw duty firearms on big rig driver

Tow truck operator threatened by comments from driver of 18-wheeler

PIONEER, TN (WLAF)- Before sun up on Thursday, the driver of an 18-wheeler became involved in a verbal confrontation with a tow truck operator and continued a verbal exchange with police. At 5:21am, Central Dispatch was called about the initial confrontation prompting police to be dispatched to the Exit 141 Pilot overflow lot off I-75.

The man behind the wheel of the tow truck, Joshua Busico, was sent to the overflow lot to tow a semi-truck, because it was reported to be illegally parked. Busico told Caryville Police Officer Brett Russell that as he was preparing to tow the truck when the driver of the big rig, Earnest Williams, exited the truck and confronted him.

Busico explained that when he told Williams his truck was being towed, Williams allegedly responded by saying “what would you do if I shot you in the face?”, according to the police report.

Officer Russell and Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputy Austin Stone responded to the TA Travel Center, across Hwy 63 from the Pilot overflow lot, where Williams and his rig were located. Officer Russell and Deputy Stone made contact with Williams and informed him they were conducting a criminal investigation and needed him to come out of the truck.

Williams was reported to tell police that he was on his break and did not wish to speak with them. Officer Russell details in his report that as the officers continued to issue verbal commands for Williams to get out of the cab, Williams began to roll up his window.

To no avail, police instructed Williams multiple times not to roll up the window and to comply with their commands. That’s when Deputy Stone broke the driver’s side window.

Both Russell and Stone drew their duty firearms and gave clear, loud verbal commands for Williams to show his hands and step out of the rig, based on the police report. Williams complied and was taken into custody without further incident.

Police searched the cab of the truck in order to locate identification. During the search, a Glock 19X handgun was allegedly found inside the truck, according to the police report.

Earnest Williams, 31, Beaumont, Texas, was charged with assault, resist stop-frisk-halt-arrest-search. Williams remains housed in the Campbell County Jail this morning on a $3,500 secure bonds and is due in court on October 21. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-10/03/2025-6AM)