Police Arrest Man With Long Criminal History In Newport

Newport police arrested a man with a long criminal history over the weekend. Officers found a drug operation in his car as well as firearms. A patrol officer had noticed a vehicle Friday night on Hedrick Drive that was being driven by a man known to be wanted out of Jefferson County. The car was being driven by 46 year old Michael Lee Fraser who tried to avoid the officer by pulling into Wellington Manor. Fraser then got out of the car, went to the passenger side and a female got out of the car and went to the drivers side and they pulled out of the parking lot where they then drove to Senior Way where they exited that vehicle. By that time a backup officer had arrived and Fraser and his passenger were found trying to hide behind an apartment. Fraser had just over a gram of meth in his pocket, but it was what officers found in the car that really got the attention. Over 6 grams of marijuana was found in the vehicle along with baggies and digital scales plus weapons. A .22 caliber revolver and a 9mm Ruger were found in the car along with ammunition. The female in the car, Lauren Ray, was transported to a motel in Morristown where Fraser had been staying. In that room police found the case for the Ruger and more ammunition. Fraser had 3 felony convictions in 2003 out of Hamblen County, 2 felony convictions out of Cocke County in 2002, and 1 felony conviction out of Cocke County in 2006. The car that Fraser was driving was registered to a deceased man in Claiborne County.