A Knoxville man is facing a long list of charges after Oak Ridge and Oliver Springs police say he led them on a multi-jurisdiction vehicle pursuit that wound through both communities before ending in Oak Ridge on April 13. Officers identified the driver as 32-year-old Shawntez Matthews, who police say struck an officer's vehicle during the chase. The incident drew multiple units from neighboring agencies and ended with Matthews taken into custody at the scene.
According to WYSH AM 1380, Oak Ridge police have charged Matthews with aggravated assault on law enforcement, the manufacture, sale, and delivery of Schedule II drugs, driving under the influence, implied consent for refusing a blood test, driving on a suspended license, two counts of evading arrest, and failure to maintain a single lane. The station reports authorities identified Matthews as the driver after reviewing arrest documents and warrants.
How The Pursuit Unfolded And What Officers Say They Found
Warrants reviewed by The Oak Ridger say calls came in about a white Nissan Altima swerving near South Illinois Avenue and Lafayette Drive around 11:13 a.m., and that an initial stop attempt at South Illinois Avenue and ORAU Way failed when the car crossed the center line and headed into Oliver Springs. The chase later returned to Oak Ridge, where officers again tried to stop the vehicle near Montana Avenue. Matthews allegedly struck an officer's vehicle on Newcastle Road before spike strips were deployed, and the car finally stopped on Oklahoma Avenue. Officers reportedly fired pepper-ball projectiles into the vehicle as the driver rummaged through it, then handcuffed him. The warrants also allege officers found about 24 grams of a substance they believed to be fentanyl and seven empty alcohol bottles. Bond for Matthews was set at $150,000, and he is scheduled to appear in Anderson County General Sessions Court on April 21, according to the warrants.
