Police arrest driver who resisted officer, hit steel post at Rocky Top

 

Knox County and Oak Ridge officers have arrested the Knoxville man who resisted an officer before he accelerated toward a Rocky Top store and hit a steel pole in the gas station’s parking lot early Tuesday morning, authorities said.

Sherrius Smith, 20, was arrested at an apartment on West Vista Ridge Way in Knoxville at about 11:10 a.m. Tuesday by members of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Division and Oak Ridge Police Department Special Projects Unit, the ORPD said in a press release. He was transferred to the ORPD, which is taking him to the Anderson County Detention Center in Clinton, where he will face the following charges, a press release said:

• two counts of aggravated assault,
• possession of schedule VI controlled substances for resale,
• reckless endangerment,
• evading arrest,
• violations of a drug free school zone,
• possession of drug paraphernalia, and
• resisting arrest.

The ORPD said it does not expect to charge the 17-year-old female who was with Smith.

Smith and the juvenile had fled after police responded to the suspicious vehicle call at Rocky Top at 1190 Oak Ridge Turnpike at about 1:40 a.m. Tuesday. Smith and the juvenile were reportedly intoxicated and had been involved in a verbal disturbance earlier after exiting the store, the ORPD said in a Tuesday morning press release.

Smith resisted an officer, and during the struggle, both entered the front driver’s side door of the sedan, that press release said. Smith then placed the vehicle into drive and accelerated toward the store.

The vehicle was prevented from striking the building when the officer who was attempting to control Smith managed to turn the wheel, directing the vehicle away from the building, the release said. The vehicle struck a steel post in the parking lot, disabling it, and Smith fled on foot.

More officers responded to help the first two responding officers. Smith’s arrest was announced in a second press release later Tuesday.