Man accused of fleeing from police, driving toward three parked officers

An Oak Ridge man is accused of fleeing from police on Wednesday night, driving toward three officers parked in Scarboro, wrecking a car, and running on foot before being arrested.

Laphonso R. Porter, 23, remained jailed in the Anderson County Detention Facility on Thursday night. He has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault, two counts of evading arrest, driving on a suspended license, and reckless endangerment, according to arrest warrants.

Oak Ridge Police Department Officer James Elkins tried to stop Porter at about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday for driving on a suspended license after he was spotted leaving a gas station on Oak Ridge Turnpike, said the warrants, filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court.

But Porter allegedly did not stop and started to flee when Elkins turned on his blue lights. He turned into the Shoney’s parking lot and began to accelerate, Elkins said.

During the chase, Porter turned onto Carver Avenue, where ORPD Officer Simon Byrne was parked with his lights on, the warrants said.

“Porter then came at Officer Byrne head-on with his vehicle, nearly striking Officer Byrne,” Elkins said.

The warrants said Porter turned around near where ORPD Officer Clint Foland was parked with his lights on.

“Porter then continued to travel at Officer Foland,” Elkins said. “Officer Foland had to move his patrol car to keep Porter from striking him.”

The warrants said Porter also encountered ORPD Sgt. Shannah Newman on South Benedict Avenue.

“Porter then came at Sgt. Newman head-on with his vehicle and almost hit Sgt. Newman while she was parked,” Elkins said.

The warrants said Porter evaded officers on South Dillard Avenue at high speed, and there were about 15 people standing near the roadway.

“Porter came back past the pedestrians again traveling at a high rate of speed a second time,” Elkins said.

A passenger in Porter’s car told police she did not know Porter but had asked him for a ride home. She said she didn’t know why Porter wouldn’t stop for officers.

“While Porter was evading officers, he lost control of his vehicle numerous times and finally wrecked the vehicle, putting the life of his passenger at risk,” the warrants said. “Porter put the lives of innocent people on the sidewalk, officers, and his passenger at risk while he was evading.”

After crashing the car, Porter allegedly fled on foot, but Elkins said he chased him down and took him into custody.