Brief police chase sees Rhea man facing numerous drug charges

GRAYSVILLE — A short police chase landed a Rhea County man behind bars and facing numerous drug-related charges after he was apprehended on Tuesday, Aug. 27, according to an arrest report on file at the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department.

Thomas Dewayne Smith is facing the charges after originally being pulled over for speeding in Graysville at around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Rhea County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Kevin Ritchey said he was on routine patrol near Graysville when he saw a red sports bike rapidly accelerating on Pikeville Avenue.

“I then made my way towards the direction that I last saw the motorcycle and observed it at an extremely high rate of speed in a residential area on Harrison Avenue,” Ritchey said. “I then fell behind the vehicle and activated my emergency lights and equipment to which the motorcycle accelerated in an attempt to flee.”

Ritchey said that the motorcycle turned into a driveway on Harrison Avenue and that Smith “’dumped’ the motorcycle in the gravel driveway.

“I exited my patrol vehicle and gave commands for the rider to put his hands up and not to move,” Ritchey said. “I placed the subject into custody at that time and performed a search of the immediate area to find the rider’s backpack.”

Ritchey said that the backpack contained 32 grams of a crystal-like substance, a glass pipe and nearly $1,800 in cash.

Smith was later booked into the Rhea County Jail and charged with the manufacture, delivery or sale of methamphetamine, driving while in possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, evading arrest and violation of the financial responsibility law.