Alcoa stabbing suspect flees from police, dies after crash, Maryville Police confirms

MARYVILLE, Tenn. ( WATE ) — A man suspected in a stabbing that occurred in Alcoa later died at an area hospital following a crash after a police pursuit, according to the Maryville Police Department.

Ron Wells died as a result of his injuries in a crash involving two other vehicles on East Broadway Avenue near Fremont Circle, according to Maryville Police Chief Tony Jay Crisp . A total of four people including Wells were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Prior to the crash, Wells had refused to stop for a Maryville Police officer and a short pursuit occurred on East Broadway Avenue but was shortly terminated by the officer, Crisp said.

The officer had initially pursued Wells because of a BOLO from Alcoa Police that was out on the suspect’s vehicle after a stabbing incident. According to a report from Alcoa Police , Wells was allegedly involved in a stabbing and physical altercation that occurred at around 10 p.m. on June 21 at an Alcoa residence that left one man injured. Wells fled the scene.

While Alcoa Police officers and detectives were investigating the stabbing scene, they were notified by dispatch of a pursuit of the suspect vehicle Wells was reportedly operating. Alcoa officers went to assist Maryville Police with the pursuit of the suspect, and were advised that there had been a crash after the pursuit.

The report states that “APD units arrived on scene where the suspect vehicle struck two other vehicles with both subjects (Wells and a female passenger) still believed to be inside of the vehicle… Both occupants were not moving and appeared to have major injuries as a result of the impact.”

Officers and AMR personnel removed the female passenger from the suspect vehicle for medical treatment. Wells was still inside of the vehicle, “slumped over the center console,” the report states, and had visible injuries. He was not wearing a seat belt. Officers had to get to Wells through the passenger door due to the damage on the driver’s side door.

“Once Wells was removed from the vehicle, I located a foldable pocket knife in his front right pants pocket and removed it from his person,” the report states. “The knife believed to be involved was later given to CID as evidence in this case. Officers continued to assist medical staff as needed until both Wells and (the female passenger) were transported by AMR to UT Medical Center.”

While the APD report narrative concludes after that, WATE 6 On Your Side learned from Maryville Police that Wells later died at the hospital. No further details were available regarding the other crash victims, nor the female who was with Wells in the vehicle.

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