A Morgan County deputy stopped a motorist in a Mercedes late yesterday traveling at a high rate of speed in the 6,000 block of Knoxville Highway. The vehicle was reported stolen out of Knoxville. The suspect, 25-year-old Joshua Lance of Sevierville, managed to escape custody and fled the scene in the deputy’s patrol vehicle leading law enforcement on a 10 to 12 minute high speed pursuit. It went from the Coalfield community into the edge of Wartburg and back down Knoxville Highway where Lance abandoned the car near Big Mountain Baptist Church.

Lance was apprehended around 10:15 p.m. last night about 1/4 mile from Big Mountain Church on Highway 62. He is facing numerous charges.

Several agencies assisted in locating Lance including the Knox and Roane County Sheriff’s Offices, Wartburg and Oliver Springs Police Departments, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.