LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – LaFollette Police Sergeant Noah Riggs saw Richard Day driving a black 2014 Ford Mustang around 7:30pm on Thursday, December 21. Sgt. Riggs noticed the vehicle pull out from the Main Street Shell Gas Station. Having prior knowledge that Day had multiple outstanding warrants through the LaFollette Police Department, the sergeant initiated a traffic stop on North Tennessee Avenue.

Riggs contacted dispatch and learned Day’s driver’s license was suspended. Sgt. Riggs spoke with the passenger in the vehicle identified as Shannon Lea Shears. As Riggs was preparing the vehicle to be towed, he found an opened Suboxone package with a partial strip in the package in Shears purse that was on the front floorboard. Shears stated that she did not have her prescription with her, according to a report from the LaFollette Police Department. Also found in the purse was a pill bottle with Shears name on it for 400mg Gabapentin that was filled on Dec. 15 with a quantity of 90 with directions to take one capsule three times a day, there were allegedly five pills remaining. According to the report, given the timeline there should be 72 capsules remaining and there were 67 missing. Shears allegedly told Riggs “She hurts real bad”. Shears was placed under arrest, in her front pants pocket was a plastic bag tied and an opened Suboxone package with a strip in the package.

Day, 51, 138 Dobson Lane, Jellico was charged with driving on revoked/suspended, unlawful drug paraphernalia, possession of schedule II controlled substance, possession of schedule V controlled substance and violation of community supervision for life.

Shears, 47, 109 Nevada Avenue, LaFollette was charged with possession of schedule III. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 01/15/2024-6AM)

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