Driver nearly hits officer with car while fleeing from traffic stop

Reports filed through the Lawrenceburg Police Department show that officers initiated the traffic stop at around 11:30 Saturday night near Doss Brothers on Highway 43 North, when he noticed a black Ford Mustang convertible was being driven without the lights on. He also found that the license plate displayed was registered to another vehicle.

The driver was unable to produce his driver’s license. He told officers that, although his license had previously been revoked, he had “just paid everything off a couple of days ago,” and that his license was reinstated. In addition, he was unable to provide vehicle registration. He told officers that he had purchased the car from a friend only a couple of days before.

The status of the driver’s license was checked through Central Dispatch and officers were informed that the status was listed as “revoked.” Upon hearing this, they said that the driver, identified as Brian Keith Lay, 39, of Hohenwald, became very upset.

They instructed Lay several times not to leave the scene, but report that he started the car, “rammed it in gear” and spun the vehicle around, nearly striking one of the officers.

The officer attempted to take control of the situation by deploying his taser, however he reports that it failed to penetrate Lay’s jacket. Reports show that Lay then fled from the scene at a high rate of speed.

Officers pursued Lay to Ethridge where they report that he crossed a parking lot, “slamming on the brakes in an attempt to cause an accident.” He then exited the parking lot and continued to travel north along Highway 43. Officers continued to pursue him to the Three Oaks area. At that point they were instructed to end the pursuit.

Officers obtained warrants charging Lay with driving on a revoked license, misuse of vehicle registration, violation of the light law, evading arrest, failing to obey law enforcement, and two counts of reckless endangerment by a vehicle.