Man accused of kidnapping 2 children arrested in Dandridge after pursuit

DANDRIDGE, Tenn. (WATE) — A man accused of kidnapping two young children was arrested Wednesday by the Dandridge Police Department.

Officers were advised of a car reported stolen out of Knoxville around 7:45 a.m. Police said the car was occupied by a suspect and two children who had been kidnapped by their noncustodial father.

Officers attempted to pull over the car at a gas station on Highway 92 after it was spotted near Patriot Drive just before 8 a.m. Dandridge officers and Jefferson County deputies were able to stop the car at the entrance of Food City along West Highway 25/70 by boxing it in.

The suspect, identified as Justin Odum, was taken into custody. Both children, ages 6 and 9, were recovered safely.

Odum was booked at the Jefferson County Justice Center on multiple charges out of Jefferson and Knox counties.

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