After a brazen vehicle theft and multi-county chase, Joshua Daryl Mayes, 29, was apprehended by law enforcement officials on Thursday in Hardin Valley. Following a series of car burglaries, Mayes led police through a heart-pounding pursuit after allegedly stealing a red Mustang. According to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), as reported by WVLT, Mayes burglarized two cars before claiming the Mustang as his own and fleeing at high speed, an incident that caused no injuries despite his dangerous maneuvers.
KCSO officials disclosed, "Upon attempting to initiate a traffic stop, Mayes fled at high speed, driving recklessly through red lights, into oncoming traffic, and weaving through vehicles on the interstate shoulder." This pursuit came to a close when officials lost sight of the suspect near I-40 and Papermill Road, as explained in a press release obtained by WBIR. The search ended the following morning when Mayes was found altering the Mustang's appearance behind a business on Emory Road.
The ensuing pursuit expanded to involve law enforcement from Knox, Anderson, and Loudon counties, escalating the manhunt for the repeat offender. While trying to evade capture, Mayes hit three Knox County patrol cruisers. According to information provided by WATE, a Loudon County deputy successfully employed spike strips, bringing the chase to an end along Hardin Valley Road.
Already wanted on multiple warrants from the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Mayes now faces additional charges following these incidents. "The suspect showed no regard for the public’s safety," confirmed KCSO officials in a statement to WVLT. He is currently being held pending further investigation into the full scope of his recent criminal conduct.
