LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- A sheriff’s deputy parked, waited, responded after being notified by Central Dispatch of a possible intoxicated driver. Deputy Kendra Porter was already in the area when she staged in front of the barber shop across from Gamble Motors on Highway 25W.

It was around 5:40pm Wednesday when the deputy spotted the suspect in a gold Honda CRV drive down the South Avenue Hill to Albright the traffic light and then make a U-turn, nearly causing an accident.

With lights and siren activated, Porter drove across the intersection of the four lane and up South Avenue where she pulled over the Honda. Before Porter could get out of her cruiser, the suspect was already out of her car allegedly yelling and behaving erratically. Porter ordered the suspect, Michelle Albright, off the side of the street and back into her car for her safety.

Albright told the deputy that she was being followed. Porter told Albright that drivers had called in about her driving. When asked what type of intoxicant she’d had, Albright allegedly stated all she’d had that day was Hydrocodone.

Albright struggled in her performance of a field sobriety test and was placed under arrest and placed in the back of the deputy’s cruiser.

As Porter retrieved some paperwork, Albright slipped her handcuffs with one hand free. The deputy turned to recuff Albright and saw a glass meth pipe and green leafy substance in the backseat floorboard likely coming from somewhere on Albright’s person.

Albright, 52, of La Follette was charged with DUI, possession of schedule III, V and drug paraphernalia, registration violation, simple possession of schedule VI, failure to provide proof of insurance, resist-stop-frisk-halt-arrest-search and failure to exercise due care. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-04/03/2026-6AM)

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