LISA HOBBS
Editor
A man who refused to go quietly now faces multiple charges after a traffic stop ended in an altercation that injured first responders.
Jacob Allen Wade Lawson, 29, of Gruetli-Laager, was arrested August 23. Among his charges are one count of resisting stop, arrest and search and three counts of assault on a first responder. According to an incident report, he allegedly refused to comply with a law enforcement officer’s commands to step out of an unregistered vehicle that he was driving without a license, insurance or working brake lights.
“The vehicle stopped in front of the fire department in Monteagle,” said Grundy County Sheriff’s Department Detective Avery McGinness. “While the car was stopping, I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw that the driver was taking something and had taken something to drink right before he stopped.”
What should have been a routine traffic stop deteriorated quickly.
“I asked him if he had the registration, and he opened the glove box and handed me a title to the car,” said McGinness, who noted it was a white Infinity 2000 model. “I asked him for his license, and he said that he didn’t have it, but his name was Jacob Lawson. I then asked him to step out of the vehicle and he asked why. I advised him that he did not have registration to the vehicle, he did not have his license on him and that I would like to identify him.”
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled, in Pennsylvania v. Mimms, that it is not a violation of the Fourth Amendment to order someone out of their car and frisk them. They stated that the officers’ safety far outweighed the slight inconvenience of asking a motorist to exit their vehicle while on a traffic stop.
The officer advised the man that he was standing in the roadway and would like to move to a safer location to continue the discussion as to what, if anything, the individual had consumed.
“He then stated that he did not have to get out of the vehicle,” said McGinness. “I then advised him that he would get out of the vehicle, or I would have to place him under arrest. He stated that he was not getting out of the vehicle.”
McGinness attempted to remove Lawson, whose verbal resistance turned physical.
“I was able to get him out of the car and hold onto him, but he was trying to push me away from him. K9 Officer [Brant] Voss arrived on scene and began to assist me. The driver got away from both of our grasps and was able to get back into the car. I continued to try and pull the driver out but was unsuccessful.”
Both law enforcement officers attempted to deploy tasers, but neither deployed, a situation McGinness credited to using outdated equipment.
“We then went hands on again and were able to pull him from the vehicle. At this time, three firemen from Monteagle Fire assisted us,” said McGinness, who identified Monteagle Fire Chief Travis Lawyer among them. “The driver had one cuff on him and was able to get away from my grasp. He then got back in his car. Travis was able to get the handcuff that was not on him yet and was able to pull him to keep him from trying to take off in the car. The driver tried pulling the handcuff out of Travis’ hand.”
Arriving on scene were Monteagle Police Chief William Raline and Patrolman Cody Smart, who joined in on the effort to gain control of Lawson, a struggle that ended shortly thereafter with Lawson in handcuffs. Lawson was transported to Grundy County Jail by Deputy Young.
McGinness suffered a minor injury to his back, Lawyer suffered a minor injury to his hand, and Voss suffered a more significant injury to one leg.
According to the report, Lawson continued a verbal objection to being arrested.
“Deputy Young stated that Jacob screamed all the way to the jail,” said McGinness.
Lawson was also charged with failure to provide a driver’s license, expired registration and no insurance. His first court appearance is September 12 before Judge William R. Anderson III.
The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.