A bond hearing was scheduled for Nov. 30 for the man who led law enforcement officers on a multi-county chase that ended in Cumberland County when the driver was forced to a stop by a Crossville Police cruiser.
Ryan Francis Whyte, 35, is charged by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office with reckless endangerment, felony evading arrest and no driver’s license. He faces additional charges by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and other jurisdictions as a result of the incident.
Whyte appeared in Cumberland County General Sessions Court on Nov. 27 and the case was continued to Thursday for a bond hearing.
The local charges stem from a Nov. 23 incident that occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Interstate 40. Local law enforcement agencies were notified police units from Roane County were in pursuit of a Nissan vehicle with the rear glass missing and displaying Florida tags.
Local law enforcement agencies were also advised that the vehicle had been pursued in Knox and Meigs counties by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
CCSO Cpl. Ryan Ashburn stationed himself on the 329 overpass observing traffic when he spotted the vehicle exit at Crab Orchard and travel toward him, running a stop sign and re-entering I-40 traveling west in the east lane.
Deputy Ben Griffin set out tire disabling strips to disable the vehicle at the 327 mile marker and Sgt. James Scott and Deputy Leviticus Gilliam deployed strips at the 324 mile marker.
The vehicle continued traveling in the wrong lane with four flat tires until Crossville Police Department Lt. Jared South ended the pursuit by striking the fleeing vehicle with his patrol car.
Reason for the suspect’s flight is not known other than his Washington driver’s license had been canceled.