A man is still at-large in the area of the closed eastbound rest area on Interstate 24 in Marion County following a chase Wednesday night that started in Kimball, Tenn.
Sheriff Ronnie "Bo" Burnett said a man and woman were believed to have been shoplifting at the Walmart in Kimball when they left and were spotted by police there a little after 10 p.m. CDT.
A chase ensued and continued east on I-24 toward the bridge over Nickajack Lake.
Just before the bridge, the vehicle the pair were in crashed through a barricade at the closed rest area. The man jumped out and fled, Burnett said.
The woman, identified by Marion County officials as Sabrina Slatton of Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., stayed with the car and was taken into custody as authorities arrived. Burnett said the woman was wanted on warrants issued out of East Ridge.
Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Alan Bailey said troopers took Slatton to the Hamilton County Jail to be booked on the outstanding warrants. THP worked the accident only, Bailey said.
Officers from Kimball, Jasper and Marion County agencies along with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officers in a boat searched the area around the closed rest area for the man who fled, but there was no sign of him.
The man's description is limited. Burnett said he is a white man who walks with a limp.
"As soon as she clears up her charges in East Ridge she will be brought here," the sheriff said of Slatton.
Burnett said Slatton faces six charges in Marion County and Kimball related to Wednesday night's incident.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or on Twitter twitter.com/BenBenton or on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.