Rhea County officials arrest suspect in multiple thefts

photo William Terry McDaniel

A high-speed police chase that happened in Rhea County, Tenn., in early November ended with no suspect caught.

That changed on Nov. 14, when lawmen finally apprehended a man wanted on several charges in four counties and two states, according to sheriffs' office personnel in Meigs and Rhea counties.

Once officers tracked him down, William Terry McDaniel, 36, was arrested without incident, said Rocky Potter, an investigator with the Rhea County Sheriff's Office.

Potter said McDaniel was charged with three counts of vehicle theft, theft of a dealer tag, felonious evading and felonious theft, violation of probation in Catoosa County, Ga., and other counts.

He is being held in jail without bond. The charges are out of Rhea, Meigs and Hamilton counties in Tennessee and Catoosa County, Potter said.

He said the early November chase began when a Sears store manager in Dayton, Tenn., saw a man loading up an ATV and driving away with it.

The store manager called police, who began chasing the vehicle carrying the stolen ATV. During the chase, one Rhea County officer crashed and sustained minor injuries, although Potter said that officer is back at work now.

The driver got away in that chase.

On Nov. 14, Potter and another officer saw McDaniel near his home in the Birchwood, Tenn., area, but failed to apprehend him that afternoon. They went back that evening, and McDaniel turned himself in without incident.

Potter said McDaniel will be shipped to the other counties where he faces charges after he has appeared in court in Rhea County.

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