A Knoxville man, identified as 52-year-old David Esserman, is now facing a slew of charges after a traffic stop escalated into a car chase that resulted in injuries to law enforcement officers and the discovery of a substantial amount of drugs and cash, local authorities reported. The incident began in the vicinity of McTeer Street and Fillmore Avenue on Monday at approximately 12:20 p.m., following a drug complaint registered in the area. WBIR detailed that officers pulled over Esserman for traffic offenses when they suspected he was in possession of narcotics.
While asked to exit his vehicle during the stop, Esserman allegedly initiated the escape by starting his car, subsequently dragging officers who tried to prevent his departure. According to statements made by KPD Communications Manager Scott Erland and reported by WVLT, both officers sustained injuries and later received medical treatment at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. After the chase commenced, the Knox County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) took charge of the operation, deploying a helicopter to support ground forces.
The pursuit concluded in East Knoxville at the intersection of Whittle Springs Road and Hoitt Avenue, where a KCSO deputy employed a PIT technique—a maneuver using their cruiser to forcefully rotate a suspect's car—successfully halting Esserman's vehicle. KCSO officials conveyed to WATE, that following the stop, Esserman continued the assault by running over the foot of a deputy and ramming an occupied KCSO K9 cruiser. He was then taken into custody.
During the vehicle search, officers unearthed over 350 grams of suspected marijuana along with more than $40,000 in cash, prompting further charges. Esserman is now facing four counts of aggravated assault on a first responder, evading arrest with risk of death or injury, resisting arrest, and the sale and delivery of schedule VI controlled substances, in addition to speeding. The status of the deputy whose foot was run over by Esserman before being secured remains undisclosed, with KCSO yet to respond to queries regarding the condition of the injured officers.
