CCSO: Man charged with multiple felonies after pursuits

CARTER COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A Carter County man is facing several felony charges, including evading and reckless endangerment, after leading authorities on two pursuits on Tuesday .

According to the Carter County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), deputies arrested Robert Jacob Ray, age 32, after two vehicle pursuits.

On Tuesday, deputies reportedly saw Ray driving a stolen vehicle from a car dealership near Hampton High School.

Ray then allegedly refused to stop for officers and began driving at a high rate of speed onto Highway 19E in the Valley Forge area.

Due to safety concerns, deputies ended the pursuit, the CCSO reported.

Shortly after, deputies were notified that the stolen vehicle had crashed on Highway 19E near the Burger Hut restaurant.

The 911 caller reportedly told police that Ray and a passenger of the vehicle exited the crashed vehicle and got into a black Dodge pickup in the parking lot of Fidelitone.

The duo then fled the area traveling north on Highway 91, the CCSO stated.

A second pursuit began when deputies located the truck on Highway 91 near John Alfred Loop.

The pursuit continued and ended when deputies performed a PIT maneuver, resulting in the truck going off the roadway into a ditch. Ray then allegedly attempted to drive the truck out of the ditch but was blocked by police, according to the CCSO.

Ray was arrested and taken to the Carter County Detention Center where he was served with an outstanding warrant from the Elizabethton Police Department charging him with auto theft.

Ray has also been charged with the following by the CCSO:

• Resisting arrest
• Evading arrest (two counts)
• Reckless endangerment
• Reckless driving
• Auto theft

As of Thursday, he is being held in the detention center on a $82,000 bond.

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