Armed suspect makes threats; flees from law enforcement

By Eddie West Staff Writer

Armed with a shotgun,  a male subject allegedly threatened multiple people at the Smith County Welcome Center at Buffalo Valley on Interstate 40, Sunday morning, according to Smith County Sheriff Steve Hopper.

The suspect eventually left the scene on foot without injuring anyone but was the subject of an extensive manhunt involving the Smith County Sheriffs department, THP and other agencies.

The incident at the welcome center (also known as the Smith County Rest Stop/Buffalo Valley Rest Area) occurred around 5 a.m., but the male suspect was not located until around 3 p.m., eventually discovered in Putnam County after fleeing from law enforcement.

Described as being approximately five foot six inch tall and weighing around 170 pounds, the male suspect left the rest stop only to encounter a  Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper (THP) a short time later

According to THP, “One of our troopers was dispatched to a motorist needing assistance on I-40 around the 267-mile marker, which is very close to the Buffalo Valley rest area. As the trooper made contact with the vehicle and a male subject, the trooper noticed that the male matched the description of the suspect from the rest area incident. When our trooper attempted to detain the suspect, he fled on foot in the wooded area next to the Interstate. Our troopers then continued to assist the Smith County Sheriff’s Department along with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and began a search of the area.  Around 3 p.m., with the help of some local residents spotting the suspect, troopers took him into custody around Hopewell Road and Medley Amonette Road which is in Putnam County.” 

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