On June 21, Sheriff’s department K-9 officer Sgt. Ridge Long captured a suspect with an active warrant following a pursuit on I40 which began in Smith County and concluded in Mt. Juliet.
Initially, Sgt. Long observed a red vehicle change lanes without signaling and break check upon passing his marked patrol car near mile marker 258, Gordonsville area. Sgt. Long began to follow the vehicle and confirmed that that driver was traveling over the speed limit. Additionally, Sgt. Long stated in an offense report he could “smell a strong odor of marijuana” coming from the car in which the suspect was traveling.
Sgt. Long activated his emergency lights, attempting to stop the vehicle which failed to yield and began to increase speed. While pursuing the vehicle the driver passed other vehicles on the shoulder and travelled in excess of one hundred miles per hour according to the report.
Sgt. Long continued to pursue the vehicle along Interstate 40 in Smith County well into Wilson County where the driver exited the interstate at the Exit 232, entering Highway 109, where the vehicle ran into an embankment, blowing a tire.
Even with a blown tire, the vehicle continued, traveling down Bluegrass Parkway where the officer noticed the driver tossed a clear baggie out the driver’s side window, according to the officer’s report. The vehicle came to a stop at 144 Bluegrass Highway and the driver was ordered out of the vehicle but refused.
A female passenger was inside the vehicle, along with minors in the backseat. The female and two juveniles cooperatively exited the vehicle and followed instructions to lay on the grass beside the road.
A retired deputy with the Wilson County Sheriff’s Department pulled onto the scene and assisted by watching the female and two male juveniles. Additionally an officer with the Gordonsville Police Department and two officers with the Mt. Juliet Police Department arrived on the scene to assist in the investigation.
The driver from the vehicle continued to resist commands by Sgt. Long and had to be physically removed from the vehicle in order to place him under arrest, according to an offense report. Sgt. Long located a gram of marijuana inside the vehicle, according to the report.
The vehicle’s driver told the officer he fled because he had an outstanding arrest warrant. After checking a national crime data bases, Sgt. Long learned the driver of the vehicle was confirmed to be a gang member with an active warrant related to a conviction for sale of a schedule II drug cocaine and aggravated robbery.
Seayon Weston, 35, Knoxville, was charged with possession of controlled substances, driving on revoked license, evading arrest, tampering with or fabricating evidence, resisting arrest, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and violation of parole.
Bond for Weston was set at $56,000 for all charges except violation of parole, however for violation of parol Weston was held without bond. He has court dates scheduled at later dates.
