Bradley County authorities say it was a Florida man driving a vehicle stolen from Catoosa County, Ga., who led lawmen on a four-county chase Sunday night.
Lt. James Bradford, spokesman for the Bradley County Sheriff's Office, said a deputy tried to stop a vehicle that was traveling west in the eastbound lanes of U.S. Highway 64 shortly before 10 p.m.
The driver sped away and the chase was on, Bradford said. The fleeing driver hit speeds over 100 mph and blew through eight red lights in Bradley County, striking a sheriff's patrol vehicle. Several other law enforcement agencies joined in as the driver kept going through McMinn and Meigs counties and into Rhea County.
That's where he lost control and the car left the road and stopped in a field. The driver jumped out and tried to run away through some woods but was caught, Bradford said.
Other officers found a woman passenger who told them she didn't know the vehicle was stolen and she'd just gotten a ride from the driver. The woman said she was scared for her life and begged the driver to stop and let her out, but she just old her to "shut up" and kept going, according to Bradford.
He said Joseph Daniel Valentino, 23, of Springhill, Fla., is charged with false imprisonment, felony evading, eight counts of felony reckless endangerment, possession of stolen property over $1,000, driving on a suspended license and lane-law violation.
Valentino also faces felony charges from the Meigs County Sheriff's Office and Decatur Police Department, Bradford said.
In the statement, Sheriff Watson said, "Our agency is thankful to Tennessee Highway Patrol, McMinn County Sheriff's Office, Decatur Police Department, and Rhea County Sheriff's Office for their assistance during last night's pursuit. This team effort resulted in the arrest of a criminal offender and the recovery of stolen property from a neighboring state.