Yesterday afternoon, a man was apprehended for allegedly tampering with gas valves in Maryville, which led to the temporary evacuation of nearly half a thousand individuals and numerous businesses. According to WVLT, authorities arrested the man after he was seen fleeing from a natural gas connection on Celtic Drive. This led to an emergency response, during which the northbound lanes of the 129 bypass were closed as a precaution while responders worked to shut off the potentially hazardous leak.
Officials with the Maryville Police Department stated there were no injuries from the incident, which required "a total of 19 businesses and approximately 430 residents in the area to be temporarily evacuated out of an abundance of caution due to the gas in the atmosphere," as reported by a city spokesperson to WVLT. Two natural gas companies alongside fire and police crews converged on the scene to ensure public safety and assess any damages that may have been incurred as a result of the purported tampering.
The suspect is currently in custody pending charges after causing considerable disruption. Information from the WBIR indicates that the evacuation lasted approximately 30 minutes, following which residents and business owners were permitted to return once the area was deemed safe by the responding authorities. Atmos Energy, along with another gas company, worked with first responders to manage the situation and address potential risks to the community.
