On October 5, 2023, officers from Crossville Police Department were dispatched to the Bakery Outlet on Hwy 127N for a vehicle being stolen from the parking lot by a man who did not have permission to take the vehicle.

While en-route to the location, officers were informed that the vehicle possibly was turning into the National Guard Armory on Hwy 70W. A Fire Department employee was in the area and heard the broadcast of the stolen vehicle and saw it exiting the Armory parking lot and told officers that it was a male driver. He told officers that he was in the Highland Square parking lot and he was going to observe and let them know the path the suspect was taking. He further told officers that the suspect turned right out of the Armory and went west to where he turned left into the parking lot of Best Friends Veterinary Clinic. The tag was confirmed that it was the vehicle that was just taken from the store parking lot. 

The suspect exited the parking lot at the rear of Best Friends and into the Highland Square parking lot of Kroger’s going left. He then proceeded to the stop sign and then went straight going beside KFC and veered toward Hardees. An officer came into contact with the suspect in the parking lot and turned his blue lights on and got behind the vehicle. The suspect would not comply and continued traveling through the parking lot and started to speed up while there were several people in vehicles and walking around in the area at which time the officer activated his siren. The suspect continued in to Highland Square going toward the back part of the parking lot heading northwest refusing to stop. He ran the stop sign by KFC and exited on the Hwy 70 west side failing to stop at the traffic light.

The suspect continued to flee without stopping and he turned into the National Guard Armory going in at the front building by the front parking area and then went off the parking lot edge onto the grass and went around the flag pole and back toward the parking lot and toward Hwy 70 W. The suspect turned left on Hwy 70 W and a County unit got behind him at which time he continued straight through the intersection of Hwy 70 W and West Ave, failing to stop for the red traffic light while putting multiple people in danger of serious injury or death. The suspect continued to travel straight onto Elmore Rd while reaching speeds of 60 miles an hour. There were four police units both City and County following the suspect at this time.

The suspect came up to the intersection of Elmore Rd and Hwy 127N and refused to stop for the red traffic light. He entered the intersection and was hit on the passenger side by a White Truck that had the right of way with a green light which caused the vehicle to roll onto the driver’s side, slide eastward and strike a Blue Volkswagen Tegen and then come to rest. Two of the officers went to the rear of the vehicle and the hatch was open but when they tried to pull the suspect out they found he was stuck. During this he was unconscious and appeared to have overdosed at which time Narcan was administered and he quickly responded by suddenly awaking. Officers notified the Fire Department and they had to extricate the suspect. Once the suspect was removed he was immediately transported by EMS ground to Rec Park on Industrial Blvd. where Life Force 2 was on scene waiting to fly him out due to serious injuries. 

He was identified as Jonathan Wayde Russell DOB 7/27/83 by a deputy who had encounters with him previously. The female in the Volkswagen was transported to the CMC ER for unknown injuries and the male subject in the white truck was unharmed. 

An officer located the theft victim who told him that he stopped at the Bakery Outlet and went into the store. He said that he came out of the store and saw the man in his vehicle who took off in it without his permission. The theft victim also said that he did not know who the man was. He further stated that he left the keys in the floorboard of the vehicle and did not take them with him into the bakery. Highway Patrol was on scene and they worked the crash scene due to the fact that both departments were involved in the pursuit. The officer went to the Justice Center Judicial Commissioner’s officer and signed warrants. He swore out three warrants for Theft of Property over $2500, Felony Evading, Reckless Endangerment. Dispatch did send a hold to Hamilton County for the arrest of Jonathan Wayde Russell DOB 7/27/83.