An attempted overnight burglary resulted in a two county vehicle pursuit ending in Loudon after officers deployed spike strips.

At approximately 1:50 a.m. today, Lenoir City police and Loudon County deputies responded to a burglary alarm with glass breakage at the Weigels convenience store at the intersection of Highway 70 and Highway 321. Arriving officers confirmed someone had attempted to gain entry through the front door. An observant witness was able to provide E-911 dispatchers with a vehicle and tag description which was quickly given out to other units in the area of Interstate 75.

A vehicle matching that description was spotted a short time later by Deputy Cole Rogers. He initiated a traffic stop on the burglary suspects near Oakland Road and Interstate 75, with the driver refusing to stop. The driver, later identified as Terry Lynn Highfield of Chattanooga, led deputies on a chase through Loudon and Monroe Counties, eventually entering back into Loudon County on Steekee Road.

Loudon City Police Officer Brandon Nix was able to successfully deploy spike strips, disabling the vehicle. Subsequently, two occupants, Highfield and a female, were arrested without further incident or injury. It was later determined the vehicle was stolen out of Walker County, Georgia.

Highfield was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, felony evading, and DUI. Additional charges by Lenoir City police and Walker County, Georgia are expected. Highfield has over 20 burglaries on his criminal record and multiple evading arrest convictions.

The female, identified as Vanessa L. Starcher of Cleveland, Tennessee was taken into custody for possession of schedule II narcotics. Starcher was also wanted on two felony warrants out of Bradley County.

After being arrested, Highfield reportedly stated “I came to the wrong county to do this stuff in.”