Tenn. man leads police on 32-mile, 100 mph chase before crash

A Tennessee man led local police on a wild 32-mile-long chase Monday morning that didn’t end until he crashed his vehicle at about the 57-mile marker on I-75.
William Charles Krouse, of Alcoa, Tenn., will likely face charges stemming from the burglary of a Long John Silvers Restaurant in his hometown, and kidnapping for allegedly forcing his girlfriend along for the ride.
As it stands, Corbin Police charged Krouse with a bevy of traffic offenses including: wanton endangerment, fleeing or evading police, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, no insurance, disregarding a stop sign, speeding, reckless driving, DUI and operating on a suspended license.
According to Corbin Police Officer Jim Miller, the whole episode started when Krouse allegedly burglarized the Long John Silvers restaurant where he was a manager. When Krouse was finally stopped, police found $759 in his vehicle … money they suspect was taken during the burglary.
Krouse had a female companion in the car. Police think it was his girlfriend. According to reports, the duo stopped at a gas station at I-75 Exit 15, where the woman called police and reported she had been kidnapped.
“It’s being investigated,” Miller said. “Apparently, she left with him of her own free will, but then decided she didn’t want to be with him anymore and locked herself in the bathroom there. When he left, she called police.”
Miller said Krouse left quickly after he heard Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputies racing to the station. He drove north to Exit 25. Miller said Corbin Police units were waiting for him about a half mile before the Exit.
Krouse got off and sped across Cumberland Falls Hwy. and back onto the interstate in an effort to lose police trailing him.
“We attempted to stop him, but he just took off,” Miller said. “It got pretty wild.”
With officers closing in, Krouse drove his 1999 Pontiac Grand Am in excess of 100 mph for much of the 32-mile-long chase. London City Police joined the chase at that city’s limits. Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputies also pursued.
Krouse was finally stopped when he lost control of his vehicle around the 57-mile marker, hit a guardrail on the right side of the road, then careened across the interstate and came to rest in the median.
Miller said police found a pair of brass knuckles in Krouse’s pocket following a search. He also admitted to smoking marijuana prior to driving.
Krouse admitted to television reporters Monday that he did steal money from the Long John Silver’s store, but had no idea why his female companion claimed he kidnapped her.