Loudon, Tennessee – The Loudon County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Loudon Fire Department, Tellico Village Fire Department, Priority Ambulance Service, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol, is actively searching for two missing teenagers in the vicinity of Lake Drive and the Tennessee River, near the 74-mile marker at the I-75 bridge.

At approximately 4:00 AM on Wednesday, April 9, law enforcement agencies including the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Sweetwater Police Department were involved in a vehicle pursuit of a stolen vehicle. The pursuit was called off, and the vehicle was later found abandoned near the Tennessee River Bridge on I-75 North. The suspects fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival.

A multi-agency search ensued, involving K-9 units and drones, to comb the area surrounding the bridge and nearby woods. After an extensive search, officers cleared the area.

Around 7:30 AM, the Loudon County E-911 Center received multiple reports from residents in the Lake Drive community regarding vehicle break-ins. Upon arrival, a deputy was flagged down by residents who reported seeing a teenage male on a neighbor’s porch. Realizing that this was possibly a male that was involved in the earlier pursuit, the deputy quickly detained the male.

During questioning, the detained suspect revealed that while evading authorities, he and two other teenage males had jumped into the water from the Tennessee River Bridge.

Law enforcement and first responders are continuing the search for the missing individuals in the area. Anyone who observes suspicious activity or has information is urged to contact the Loudon County Communication Center at 865-458-9081.