Clarissa Sharee Tindell
Sixty-three grams of methamphetamine were thrown out of a car window and two patrol vehicles were hit during a police chase that started in Clinton and ended in Rocky Top on Sunday, July 30, authorities said. The vehicle occupants also threw out about one-half gram of heroin, and the car they were in almost hit two Anderson County patrol vehicles head-on, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said.
That afternoon, THP Trooper Isaiah Lloyd tried to stop a black Honda sedan for failure to yield the right of way and a turn signal violation at the intersection of State Route 61 (North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard) and Longmire Road in Clinton, near the Clinch River and Anderson County Detention Facility, according to affidavits filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton.
The 1992 Honda Accord had cut off a red pickup truck at the intersection, Lloyd said.
But the car refused to stop after he activated his emergency equipment, Lloyd said.
While the Honda was traveling down Longmire Road, the car occupants threw two items out the window, according to Lloyd:
- a baby formula can that contained a jar with about 63.93 grams of methamphetamine, and
- a black metal box that contained a set of scales, 0.53 grams of heroin, and multiple plastic bags.
After the occupants discarded the drugs, the car turned north on Highway 25W (Lake City Highway), headed toward Medford, Lloyd said in the affiadavits.
“After blowing through a stop sign, the vehicle then crossed a double yellow line, almost striking two Anderson County patrol cars head-on (Shawn Bannach and Mark Whaley),” Lloyd said.
The chase continued north on Highway 25W through Rocky Top and onto Highway 116, Lloyd said. It proceeded into Campbell County and onto Cherry Bottom Road, which turns into Oak Grove Road and loops back to US Highway 441 (Norris Freeway). The Honda turned right (north) onto Highway 441, headed back into Rocky Top.
“While traveling north on US 441, after going under the I-75 underpass, the vehicle then attempted to make a left turn onto Sunshine Drive,” Lloyd said. “The vehicle’s speeds were too fast to make the turn, resulting in the vehicle running over a curb, busting a tire, and continuing the pursuit.”
Steven Dewayne Atchley
The car reportedly busted its left front tire when it struck the concrete curb.
The car then struck THP Trooper Stephen Barclay’s patrol vehicle and continued driving, striking the patrol car of Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Zach Bates, Lloyd said.
The car was stopped at the intersection of US Highway 441 and Highway 116 in Rocky Top, the former Lake City.
Officers arrested the driver, Clarissa Sharee Tindell, 24, of Summercrest Way in Knoxville, and her passenger, Steven Dewayne Atchley, 20, of Coster Road in Knoxville, the THP said.
When they searched the car, officers found a loaded Smith and Wesson Bodyguard .380 that had been reported stolen in Morgan County, Lloyd said.
Tindell’s license was suspended at the time of the chase, and she had two active warrants in Knox County, Lloyd said.
Atchley, meanwhile, had a warrant in Union County, according to Lloyd.
Tindell has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of reckless endangerment, three counts of possession of drugs (Schedule I, II, and VI), two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, possession of a firearm during a felony, carrying or possession of a weapon, property theft, tampering with evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia, a drug-free school zone violation, and driving on a suspended license.
She has also been cited for speeding (117 mph in a 45 mph zone), failure to yield the right of way, following too closely, driving an unregistered vehicle, failure to obey the lawful order of an officer, improperly displaying plates, failure to exercise due care, and other violations, including traffic control device/signal, traffic control signals, signals for turns, financial responsibility, and littering. The tags displayed on the vehicle didn’t belong to it, Lloyd said.
Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Isaiah Lloyd is pictured above during an unrelated court hearing on Thursday, April 28, 2016, in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Tindell has remained jailed at the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton since the July 30 police chase. Her bond was set at $251,000 during an August 1 court hearing.
Her next court date, a status hearing, is scheduled for 9 a.m. September 20 in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton.
Atchley also has a court date scheduled for 9 a.m. September 20, according to Anderson County court records. He also has remained jailed since the July 30 chase. Atchley’s bond was set at $50,000 during an August 9 hearing.
Atchley has been charged with three counts of possession of drugs (Schedule I, II, and VI), property theft, tampering with evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia, a drug-free school zone violation, and possession of a firearm during a felony.
The THP reported in July that Tindell and Atchley were wearing seat belts and were not injured during the chase and crash.
See earlier story here.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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