Wanted man arrested on multiple charges by LPD

‘Mr. Murray has several warrants out of Campbell County’- LPD Officer Joseph Hicks

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The Thursday morning call of a suspicious vehicle blocking a driveway on a dead end street was answered by La Follette Police Officer Joseph Hicks. When the officer arrived at East Elm Street just after 9am, he found Johnny Murray sitting in his 2008 Nissan Altima.

Murray told Officer Hicks that he was driving to his sister’s house when his car broke down, and the homeowner told him he could park there, based on the police report. Officer Hicks explained to Murray that it is a city street, and he cannot leave his car there.

A La Follette dispatcher ran Murray’s drivers license discovering it was suspended and that Murray had several warrants out of Campbell County. Upon learning that, Officer Hicks placed Murray under arrest and sat him in the back of his police cruiser.

Officer Hicks searched the Nissan locating a clear glass pipe with white residue on it believed to be Methamphetamine , one glass water bong and a pair of brass knuckles. A search of the car’s trunk revealed a homemade water bong, hypodermic syringes and a spoon.

Murray was booked in at the Campbell County Jail. After the booking, Officer Hicks common practice is to scan the back seat of his patrol car, and he did finding a small baggie containing a white crystal-like substance in between the seats where Murray was sitting, according to the police report.

To confirm the contraband belonged to Murray, Officer Hicks reviewed his back seat camera and saw Murray retrieve something out of his pants. Murray appeared to drop the item in a space between the seats.

Murray, 40, of 409 West Fir Street, La Follette, was charged with warrant service, two counts, prohibited weapons, unlawful drug paraphernalia, possession of schedule II, tampering with or fabricating evidence and driving with suspended/canceled/revoked.

Due back in court on Tuesday morning, Murray remains housed in the Campbell County Jail this morning on a $150,000 secure bond. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-04/28/2025-6AM)