DAYTON, Tenn. — A high-speed chase in Rhea County this morning resulted in deputies firing at the truck of a Rockwood, Tenn., man after he tried to run over them over, Sheriff Mike Neal said.
Joseph Eaton, 29, is being held in the Rhea County Jail without bond, authorities said.
He was charged with four counts of reckless endangerment, four counts of aggravated assault, felony evading arrest, driving on a suspended license, violation of seat belt law, criminal impersonation, reckless driving, violation of registration law and theft of a motor vehicle, the sheriff said.
The chase started about 9 a.m. when Deputy Bobby Combs stopped Mr. Eaton’s vehicle on U.S Highway 27 in Dayton because it had an expired tag and the driver was not wearing a seat belt, Sheriff Neal said. Then Mr. Eaton gave the deputy a fake driver’s license, he added.
After it was pointed out that the license was fake, Mr. Eaton drove off in the Ford Ranger pickup truck, Sheriff Neal said.
Mr. Eaton did a U-turn in the city, started driving north and Deputy Combs pursued, said the sheriff. Other deputies joined and the chase went for about 20 miles north on U.S. 27 toward Spring City. Mr. Eaton sideswiped three patrol cars and rammed the back of another cruiser, Sheriff Neal said.
He also swerved across a highway median to evade police at one point, Sheriff Neal said. Deputies finally forced the truck off the road near Tidwell’s Berry Farm, said the sheriff. When several deputies tried to arrest Mr. Eaton, he drove the truck at them in an attempt to run them down, Sheriff Neal said.
Deputies then fired on the truck and shot out the tires, he said. Mr. Eaton drove about 100 yards before the truck came to a stop and was taken into custody, Sheriff Neal said.
Mr. Eaton will be arraigned at the Rhea County Courthouse on Tuesday, authorities said.
For a more complete story, see Saturday’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Cliff has worked for the Times Free Press for five years and covers Chattanooga city government. He previously covered Rhea County, as well as transportation and growth and development in Southeast Tennessee. A native of Maryville, Tenn., Cliff graduated in 2003 from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on journalism. Before coming to Chattanooga, he was a crime reporter with Hernando Today, a supplement of The Tampa (Fla.) ...
Good reporting, Mr Hightower. All the details are there; no doubt as to who did what, where and to whom.
Sounds like another outstanding job by our sheriff's department. Glad the officers were not injured.
The perp is lucky to be alive; we were taught to aim for the driver and not the vehicle in those situations.
Thanks to all
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