Purser swerves, drives over sidewalk, gets arrested for DUI

“I’ve had like two or three shots, but I’m almost home”- Anna Purser allegedly told police

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- A Kia Sorento making its way west on West Beech Street in a slow, drifting manner caught the attention of La Follette Police Officer Dillon Marney. The report said the gray Kia allegedly veered toward the right-side sidewalk and then corrected from hitting the sidewalk pulling left crossing the solid center lines and partially entering the oncoming eastbound lane. That’s when the officer conducted a traffic stop just after 7:30pm on Thursday.

As the pullover was developing, Anna Purser, behind the wheel of the Kia, allegedly swerved back into her lane nearly driving over the sidewalk, turned on her turn signal and drove over the sidewalk into the back parking lot of JR’s Tires, according to the police report.

Officer Marney instructed Purser to pull her vehicle forward so he could safely get his cruiser out of the road, instead Purser stepped out of the Kia holding on to the door for support, based on the narrative. In his report, the officer notes that Purser appeared dazed, not knowing what was going on, exuding a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage, having slurred speech and bloodshot, glossy, watery eyes.

When the officer asked Purser how many alcoholic beverages she’d had, Purser allegedly said “I’ve had like two or three shots, but I’m almost home.” Purser asked Marney to “please let me go home” and later saying that “she could walk home, and they could tow her car.” From the traffic stop location to Purser’s home at 120 Pats Place, off Ridenour Lane, is a shade more than three miles.

“I’ve been drinking a little bit, I’m just trying to get home,” allegedly said Purser. Purser explained to the officer that she would not have left her house, but she was trying to find her boyfriend, because he was missing. Purser repeatedly stated that she should’ve stayed home, not left, and that she was sorry, based on the LPD report.

Marney said Purser performed poorly on her field sobriety test, becoming very emotional for a second time, and had to be caught by two assisting officers to keep her from falling. Purser was then placed into custody.

LPD Patrolman Aiydan Fudala and Det. Sgt. Noah Riggs conducted the tow inventory of Purser’s 2009 Kia. One empty and one full Parrot Bay alcoholic beverage were located in the passenger floor of the vehicle while seven empty Parrot Bay alcoholic containers were found behind the passenger seat, according to the report. Officers also allegedly found a Taco Bell cup in the driver’s side cup holder, and it smelled of a strong alcoholic odor.

Dispatch advised the officers that Purser had one a 2022 DUI conviction.

During the blood draw at the Campbell County Jail, Purser told the nurse that she had a blood disorder. The nurse explained this blood draw was to determine if alcohol or drugs was her system. Purser allegedly said, “drugs no, but alcohol, that’s a different story.”

Anna Dawn Purser, 32, 120 Pat Place Lane, Jacksboro, was charged with DUI with one prior conviction, driving on the right side of the roadway and the open container law. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-09/08/2025-6AM)