Search underway in Putnam County for man who fled from THP in stolen patrol vehicle

PUTNAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) is searching for a man who they said stole a trooper’s vehicle from Smith County and then crashed it in Putnam County.

THP said troopers were on patrol in Smith County when they noticed a suspicious vehicle parked at the Buffalo Valley rest area on Interstate 40 around 6:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 30.

Officials said a trooper saw a man and woman sleeping inside the vehicle, which was confirmed as stolen. The trooper reportedly told the occupants to get out of the vehicle and then handcuffed them.

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According to authorities the female occupant was identified as 42-year-old Karen Vallie of Montana. As for the male occupant, he allegedly gave the trooper a fake name and social security number, but he was eventually identified as 55-year-old Charles D. Lawson of Tennessee.

THP said Lawson was secured in a patrol vehicle, but as the troopers inventoried the contents of the stolen vehicle and interviewed Vallie, Lawson got control of the patrol vehicle and fled the scene.

Soon afterward, though, Lawson crashed the stolen THP vehicle around Tucker Ridge Road in Putnam County, officials said. In addition, law enforcement confirmed none of the trooper’s weapons were taken from the patrol vehicle, so they believe Lawson is not armed.

Officials described Lawson as 5-feet 9-inches tall and 145 pounds with brown hair. He was last seen wearing blue shorts and handcuffs without a shirt or shoes.

Authorities shared the following photos of Lawson from a body camera before he escaped:

If you see Lawson, you are asked not to approach him. Instead, call 911 immediately.

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Shortly before 4 p.m., THP announced aviation and K-9 units are in the Putnam County area, trying to track down Lawson.

No additional details have been released about the ongoing investigation into this incident.

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This is a developing story . WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

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