Tenn. man leads police on chase; was drunk while driving with son and mother in care, police say

Timothy Anderson

A Newcomb, Tennessee man allegedly had his son and mother inside his vehicle when he lead police on vehicle pursuit from Jellico into southern Whitley County Saturday afternoon.

About 4:30 p.m., Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies were notified that a Jellico Police Department officer was in pursuit of a Jeep Cherokee that had crossed into Kentucky and was passing Black Oak Road.

Sheriff Colan Harrell said that Jellico police were trying to stop the vehicle because it had a tail light out and for suspicion of drunk driving.

Deputy David Rowe was patrolling on the southern end of the county when he joined the pursuit, according to a sheriff’s department release.

The Jeep Cherokee crossed into Rowe’s lane of travel when it passed him near Pleasant View Recycling, Rowe wrote on an arrest citation.

After the Jeep and pursuing Jellico police car passed Rowe, he turned around and joined the pursuit that traveled north on US25W before turning onto Wolf Creek Road and finally onto Jordan Hollow, according to a citation.

The Jeep was driving recklessly causing cars to leave the roadway and the driver nearly lost control of his vehicle, Rowe wrote.
Deputies Cody Harrell and Mike Taylor also joined the pursuit.

The chase ended off Jordan Hollow after the Jeep went through a yard and came to rest on the edge of a wood line, Rowe wrote.

The driver then fled on foot for a short distance. Rowe apprehended him after a short chase and altercation, according to an arrest citation.

Rowe charged the driver, Timothy Paul Anderson, 38, with two counts of first-degree fleeing or evading police, including one count each for the vehicle chase and foot chase.

Rowe also charged Anderson with resisting arrest, reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol/drugs and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.

At the time of the pursuit, Anderson had his 12-year-old son and his mother inside the vehicle, Rowe wrote.

gave police a written statement that she was begging her son to stop during the pursuit but he would not, according to an arrest citation.

in Williamsburg where blood was drawn, a citation stated.

Anderson refused to perform any field sobriety tests. He was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

Whitley District Judge Fred White entered a not guilty plea Monday afternoon for Anderson, who couldn’t be present for the court hearing because he had been taken to the hospital, according to court records.

Only not guilty pleas can be entered in district court for felony offenses and four of Anderson’s charges are class ‘D’ felony offenses each punishable by up to five years in prison.

White scheduled a May 11 preliminary hearing in the case and appointed the public advocate’s office to represent Anderson.

White also set a surety bond in Anderson’s case with the condition that he wear an ankle-monitoring device.

Anderson was released from jail about 7:24 p.m. Monday, according to the jail’s website.