Man arrested at gunpoint following high speed pursuit

A police pursuit that included speeds of up to 90 mph eventually ended with the driver being arrested at gunpoint on March 23 according to a Cocke County Sheriff’s Office incident report.

Deputy Rodney Hazelwood reports he observed a truck on Wilton Springs road going 68 mph, per radar, in a 45 mph zone. The vehicle accelerated and Hazelwood initiated the patrol vehicle’s lights and siren.

However, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as Donald Jenkins, 53, disregarded the attempts to pull him over and reportedly engaged in more reckless driving.

After passing Dark Hollow Road, the vehicle passed on the double yellow line around another vehicle, then turned right onto Hartford Road with speeds reportedly exceeding 90 mph in a 40 mph zone. Failing to stop at the stop sign on Denton Road and Greasy Cove Road, the vehicle turned onto Greasy Cove Road at speeds of up to 55 mph per the report.

The chase ended when the vehicle started sliding into a curve and crashed into an embankment near 645 Greasy Cove Road. At this point Hazelwood reports he drew his duty weapon as Jenkins was attempting to get out of the vehicle. After reportedly ignoring several commands, Jenkins went back into the vehicle looking through items.

Two other deputies arrived on scene and Hazelwood was able to go down the embankment and place Jenkins into custody. Jenkins was complaining of right ankle pain and was assisted up the embankment and rested on the front of the patrol vehicle.

When speaking with Jenkins, Hazelwood detected the smell of alcohol and Jenkins stated he was drinking earlier in the day.

Tennessee Highway Patrol was called to work the crash.

Jenkins’ driver’s license was found to have been suspended for DUI out of Cocke County since November 2001. The vehicle had no confirmed insurance.

Jenkins was transported by ambulance to Newport Medical Center for minor injuries and then booked into Cocke County Jail Annex. He was charged with reckless endangerment — vehicle felony, driving while license suspended and numerous other driving violations.

The Cocke County Sheriff’s Office advised Jenkins’ bond was set at $35,000.