By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—The man who led Henry County and Benton County deputies on a wild chase Friday is now in custody and the 4-wheeler he wrecked into the water near the Big Sandy Water Management Area was recovered Monday.
John Smothers, age 33, of Copper Springs Rd., Paris, is being held in the Henry Co. Jail on three charges: aggravated assault, evading arrest and criminal impersonation.
Investigator Scott Wyerick, Henry County Deputy John McElroy and TWRA Officer Michael Parker pulled the 4-wheeler out of the water Monday, according to Sheriff Monte Belew.
Riding the 4-wheeler, Smothers allegedly led deputies on the chase which began in Benton Co. and moved into Henry Co. In the course of the incident, Smothers tried to run Deputy Clyde Sulcer over with the vehicle, prompting Sulcer to shoot at his tires.
The 4-wheeler ended up in the water and Smothers swam away and ran off.
According to Belew, the sheriff’s office received reports that a man matching Smothers’ description was back at the scene near Hagler Ridge Road, looking for something in a field. “We believe he was back looking for items he dropped,” Belew said.
Deputies stopped him at the scene and Smothers at that time gave them a false name. “But we had information that led us to believe he was the suspect who had evaded”, Belew said.
Smothers later provided accurate identification and he was arrested on all three charges. Bond of $15,000 was set for the aggravated assault and evading arrest charges and $2,500 on criminal impersonation.
Belew said investigation continues in the case. “It appears the 4-wheeler belonged to his family, so we’re not real sure at this point why he was running from officers,” he said.
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