Middlesboro man leads Tennessee, Kentucky police on chase after attempted robbery

As we reported on Sunday, August 18th, a large police presence was gathered on Highway 25E on Log Mountain in Pineville after a pursuit from Claiborne County Tennessee came to an end. The incident stemmed from a robbery at sSubway in Tazewell on North Broad Street.

Tazewell Police Chief Jeremy Myers tells us that at 5:23 p.m. Claiborne received an E911 call about the robbery. Officers were dispatched to the scene and arrived within 30 seconds.

Claiborne Dispatch and officers on the scene provided information about the suspect, who was later identified as 68-year-old Thomas L. Johnson, originally from Middlesboro, Kentucky. Johnson fled the scene northbound on U.S. 25 on a motorcycle.

Deputies from the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office intercepted the motorcycle near Harrogate in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop, and Johnson fled. A pursuit ensued that continued into Middlesboro, Kentucky, where the U.S. Park Service, Middlesboro Police, Bell County Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky State Police took over the pursuit.

The chase ended on Highway 25E on Log Mountain in Pineville, Kentucky when Johnson lost control and crashed. He was arrested and was not injured.

Thomas Johnson was taken back to the Claiborne County Jail and charged with attempted robbery by Tazewell Police and felony eluding by the U.S. Park Service. He was also charged with resisting arrest, reckless driving and failure to yield to lights and sirens.

Chief Myers tells us, “Fortunately, no one was injured in the attempted robbery. The Tazewell Police Department would like to thank all coordinating agencies and officers for their assistance in apprehending Mr. Johnson.”

Bell County EMS and Pineville Police were also on scene.