A multi-agency highway chase involving a stolen semi-truck came to a dramatic end today following spike strip deployments, a multi-hour K-9 track, and coordinated drone operations across county lines.

The incident began early this morning when the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) alerted the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) to a northbound stolen semi-truck on Interstate 75. Loudon County deputies strategically deployed spike strips, successfully puncturing the vehicle’s tires before joining THP in pursuit.

Despite the damage, the driver continued onto Interstate 40 West before bringing the disabled rig to a halt near the Industrial Park exit in Roane County.

The suspect—identified as Trever Helton of London, Kentucky—abandoned the vehicle and fled into nearby woods. An initial search by troopers and deputies yielded no immediate results.

Bold Request Leads to Arrest

The search reignited hours later when an alert local employee contacted Roane County Dispatch. The worker reported that a man had approached his work truck, admitted to being on the run from law enforcement, and asked to borrow a phone.

When Roane County deputies arrived at the scene, Helton bolted back into the dense tree line.

Recognizing the need for additional resources, Roane County requested mutual aid. LCSO dispatched a specialized team including detectives, drone operators, and K-9 units to assist in surrounding the area.

After several hours of intense tracking using high-tech drone surveillance and K-9 teams, law enforcement located Helton deep in the woods. He was taken into custody without further incident and transported to the Roane County Jail.

Officials praised the seamless cooperation between the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Roane County Sheriff’s Office, crediting exceptional teamwork and modern tracking tech for taking the suspect into custody safely.