The Naked Truth
Nude driver leads officers on high-speed chase
July 17, 2008
Wednesday night, officers with the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Department became involved in a high-speed chase when a black Acura was able to evade the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The trooper began pursuing the vehicle around the Tinker Road Exit on I-26.
According to a report written by UCSD Deputy Todd Wilcox, he was dispatched to assist State Trooper Julian Robinson in a pursuit of the black Acura which was heading east on I-26 doing over 100 mph as he passed exit 40. Wilcox went on to I-26 East at the 43 mile marker and waited for the Acura which was driven by Jason Chad Elliot, 29, 1290 #3 Milligan Highway, Johnson City.
Wilcox observed the defendant pass two vehicles in the emergency lane and cross back over into the roadway at 98 mph. Deputy Wilcox proceeded to pursue Elliott from the 43 mile marker to the 50 mile marker. Elliot then pulled his Acura over to a stop at the 50 mile marker.
“When he finally stopped, the driver slung the door open,” Sheriff Kent Harris said. “Todd did a felony stop, told the driver to get out with his hands up. The guy jumps out of the car and he’s completely naked. Then he took off running down the bank at Higgins Creek.”
Harris said that Wilcox then noticed that there was a female passenger, who was later discovered to be a minor, in the car. Wilcox remained with the vehicle until the THP Trooper arrived at the scene. Wilcox then secured the area where Elliot was hiding.
Harris arrived at the scene shortly after the THP. Investigator Stacy Wigand and his K-9 Gary were brought in to search for the defendant. Gary and the officers tracked the suspect to a location in the woods where he was hiding. The officers then arrested the suspect and led him back up the bank.
“He was naked,” the sheriff said. “He told us that’s why he ran.”
“It was a bizarre case. I’ve caught people doing things they shouldn’t be doing while they’re driving, but never completely naked. We do see some odd things sometimes.”
Elliot was charged with passing in no passing zones, reckless driving, felony evading arrest, resisting arrest, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, statutory rape, and public indecency.
Harris went on to say that this pursuit was the third time in the last week that an individual has attempted to run from his officers.
“It’s been a week of runners,” the sheriff said. “I don’t know what’s got into people this week. It’s been interesting.”
Michael A. Lonardo, 536 Gleason Circle E. Rochester, NY, was arrested on or about July 8 on charges of fugitive from justice, evading arrest and resisting arrest by members of the UCSD. Investigators attempted to arrest Lonardo on a warrant out of the state of Pennsylvania, when they observed the defendant drive up in the vehicle which they had previously identified as the suspect’s car, and park about a block away from his residence. The defendant then got out of the vehicle at which point he was identified as the suspect by a photograph that was attached to the warrant.
Investigators then approached him and identified themselves as sheriff’s officers as he was walking toward the apartment building where he was staying. The defendant then ran from the investigators and a foot pursuit followed ending only a short distance from where it began with the suspect lying face down on the ground as a result of a take down maneuver. The suspect continued to struggle until the hand restraints were applied. He was then confined to the back seat of the back up cruiser which had responded to the scene for support. A check of the defendant’s drivers license revealed that the license was suspended out of the State of New York for frequent traffic violations. The defendant did evade officers after proper identification of the officers had been made, and he continued to struggle to further resist the arrest. The warrant was confirmed out of the State of Pennsylvania and Lonardo was charged with being a fugitive from justice.
On Monday, July 7, UCSD Deputy Matt McNally attempted to serve a warrant on Jimmie B. Rogers, Jr., 911 Massachusetts Ave, Unicoi at his residence. McNally came in contact with Rogers in the driveway of the residence.
According to McNally’s report, Rogers asked him what the warrant was for and when he told Rogers that it was an arrest warrant, Rogers fled into the woods behind the residence.
McNally pursued Rogers into the woods and repeatedly told him to stop. McNally then called for backup.
“Ron Arnold and Frankie Rogers assisted in the pursuit,” Sheriff Harris said. “They spotted Rogers and caught up with him. They also repeatedly told him to stop and he again refused.”
“So Ron was forced to use a taser on him to get him to stop.”
Sheriff Harris said that after Rogers was arrested and taken to the Unicoi County Jail, he did not require medical treatment.
The Naked Truth
Post your feedback on this topic here
| Date | Subject | Posted by: |
|---|---|---|
| No feedback has been posted yet. Please post yours! | ||
