Lafollette Man Wanted On Drug Charges Runs From The Law

 

            Oneida, TN (2011-07-11) A Lafollette man that had been sought by local authorities following the discovery of a mobile meth lab in a Norma area cemetery in late June attempted to flee from authorities Saturday night.  The suspect was eventually stopped outside Huntsville, but reportedly fought with officers before being detained.

            Patrick Lynn Chitwood, 31, of Lafollette was arrested Saturday night, after he, and a female companion, led officers on a high speed chase from south Oneida into Huntsville.  According to an arrest warrant filed by Drug Agent Kris Lewallen of the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Chitwood, who had been sought by the Sheriff’s Department after he allegedly ran from a meth lab site in Brown Cemetery on Hurricane Road on June 28, 2011, was a passenger in a white Ford Contour spotted in the parking lot of the Scott County Food Court in south Oneida.  When authorities attempted to stop the car, the driver, identified as Katrisha Anne Humphreys, 21, of Caryville allegedly refused to stop.  Humphreys reportedly drove south on Scott Highway.  Near the intersection of Firefly Lane in Helenwood, Humphreys and Chitwood allegedly traded seats.  Behind the wheel, Chitwood allegedly continued south on U.S. 27 and turned onto Baker Highway.  Just outside of the Huntsville business district, Scott County Sheriff Mike Cross and Deputy Keith Ducharme deployed a spike strip, causing the front tires on the car to rapidly deflate.  Chitwood reportedly bailed out of the moving car and attempted to flee on foot; however, he reportedly ran toward a steep cliff line.  K-9 Officer Roger Douglas and Deputy Steven Ward attempted to detain Chitwood; however, he reportedly struggled with officers.  With the assistance of other officers, Chitwood was taken into custody.

            Humphreys was taken into custody at the car without incident.  When arrested, she reportedly had 4 grams of meth and approximately 75 Xanax pills on her person.

            Inside the car authorities allegedly found another 5 grams of meth, allegedly left in the car by Chitwood.  An active, one-pot meth lab was also recovered from the trunk.

            Chitwood was charged with evading arrest, aggravated assault, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless endangerment; speeding, promotion of the manufacture of methamphetamine; resisting arrest, vandalism of  $500 - $1,000; assault, manufacturing a schedule I controlled substance (two counts), intent to manufacture methamphetamine, and possession of a schedule II controlled substance for resale.

            Humphreys was charged with evading arrest, possession of a schedule II controlled substance, aggravated assault, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless endangerment, speeding, possession of a schedule IV controlled substance, intent to manufacture methamphetamine, vandalism of less than $500, promotion of the manufacture of methamphetamine, resisting arrest and manufacture of a schedule I controlled substance.

            Bail for both suspects was set at $250,000.