By Michael R. Moser / mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com
A multi-county, high-speed flight from police because of a revoked license ended in an Overton County wooded area where three local residents were apprehended and returned to Cumberland County to face charges.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Kevin Claude Beaty, 26, 11677 Fairview Rd., who is charged with reckless endangerment, felony evading arrest, vandalism, reckless driving and driving on a revoked license.
It is not know if he faces charges in Putnam or Overton County.
Cecil Lee Smith, 30, 238 Critter Creek Rd., is charged with evading arrest, was served with an attachment for failure to appear and was served a civil summons.
Katherine Renee Fickey, 20, 2109 Monterey Hwy., Monterey, is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
Last Thursday Sgt. Jon Wirey wrote in his report he was on routine patrol when he observed a 1992 maroon Chevrolet S-10 pickup being driven a reckless manner in the area of Big Lots off Elmore Rd.
When the officer activated his blue lights to conduct a traffic stop, the pickup sped out of the parking lot, spinning tires, and turned north on Hwy. 70 N.
The vehicle then raced at speeds topping 100 mph to the intersection of Creston Rd. and then turned onto George Smith Rd., driving through several yards and turning onto several rural county roads until it ended up in a gravel church parking lot.
The driver lost control and the pickup re-entered the road, into the path of the patrol car that struck the pickup in the driver's door, causing front-end damage to the squad car.
The impact knocked the pickup into a ditch but the driver continued his flight, slinging gravel on Wirey and Ptl. White's patrol cars.
After checking damage to his vehicle, Wirey rejoined the chase which by this time had crossed into Putnam County into the Muddy Pond community and to East Fork Lane in Overton County where the pickup stalled while trying to cross a creek.
The three occupants reportedly fled on foot into nearby woods but were quickly apprehended.
The crash was investigated by Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Mike Williams. No one was injured in the incident.
