The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is on the lookout for a man who allegedly evaded the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) and held people at gunpoint at a rest area on Sunday morning.
Sheriff Steve Hopper reported that the incident occurred at the Buffalo Valley Rest Area on Interstate 40 on Sunday, July 14. The suspect allegedly entered the rest area with a shotgun, threatened everyone present, and then fled on foot. He is described as being around 170 pounds, 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a beard, and appearing to be at least 45 years old.
According to Sheriff Hopper, the suspect was last seen wearing a military cap, tan shorts, and a shirt. The man was last spotted near Denny’s Lane, close to the border between Smith and Putnam counties. Authorities have labeled him as “very dangerous.”
The Smith County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone who sees someone fitting this description to call 911 immediately.
