Saturday around 7:20 PM, a Cumberland County deputy observed the driver of a small silver car fail to stop at a stop sign at Westel Road and Highway 70 East. The vehicle drove in front of the deputy’s patrol unit into the middle of the highway when suddenly, the passenger door of the car swung open and a female nearly fell out of the vehicle but was pulled back in.

The deputy got behind the car and when the deputy tried to initiate a traffic stop the vehicle suddenly started to accelerate.

The deputy followed the driver going down the mountain and the driver did not stop at the stop sign at the entrance of the city of Rockwood and continued on reaching speeds of up to 85 MPH. While traveling through Rockwood, the driver passed several patrol cars and Roane County deputies joined the pursuit.

According to the police report, the vehicle went through multiple red lights nearly causing vehicles to collide several times. When units got to Harriman, the driver took Interstate 40 Eastbound until the vehicle finally stopped at mile marker 360.

The driver was identified as 37-year-old Dennis Johnson, who was placed into custody. He stated he stopped because the vehicle had run out of gas. He alleged he did not want to run from police, but his passenger told him not to stop. Dispatch confirmed Johnson had two active warrants and no valid driver’s license.

The female passenger, Jessica Davis, would not give the deputies her name but  was identified by deputies that knew her from previous incidents. It was also noted in the police report that Ms. Davis stated that if she had been driving the car they would have never caught her. She attempted to drive the car from the scene; but since it was out of gas, she was transported to a near gas station to wait for a ride.