Driver’s moving violation lands his passenger in jail

La Follette Police traffic stop nets one arrest

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- On Sunday afternoon, just before 3:30, La Follette Police Officer Joe Hicks was on patrol when he saw a 1997 black Ford Ranger traveling south on South 23rd Street.

Officer Hicks reports that the Ranger failed to stop at the stop sign where South 23rd intersects with West Hemlock Street. During Hicks traffic stop of the truck, he made contact with the driver, and the driver told him that he was on probation.

When asked if he possessed any illegal items, the driver admitted to having a “rig”, a hypodermic syringe, in his pocket. Officer Hicks requested and received verbal consent from the driver to search both the driver and the passenger in the truck.

The passenger, Charles Owens, was asked to step out of the vehicle. During Officer Hicks’ search of the passenger side of the truck, he allegedly located a round tin container on the floorboard. The container held white residue and a piece of cotton. The officer also discovered a white, rock-like substance believed to be methamphetamine, according to the LPD report. The suspected meth was found inside a pack of cigarettes with the pack located on the passenger side of the dashboard.

Officer Hicks continued to comb over the cab of the pick up truck and found more suspected drugs. In the passenger seat, Hicks found what was believed to be crack cocaine, based on the police report. After initially denying ownership of any of the substances, Owens allegedly ultimately admitted the substances belonged to him.

Charles Owens, 54, 344 State Lane-La Follette, was arrested and charged with possession of schedule II, possession-manufacture-sell-deliver schedule II (meth), possession of drug paraphernalia and attempted tampering with evidence.

Owens, free on a $10,000 bond, is due in court this morning. He’s been arrested 13 times, according to jail records. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-01/06/2026-6AM)