On December 11, 2025, in the afternoon hours, Sequatchie County Detectives attempted to stop a stolen pick-up truck they observed on Deerhead Rd in the Fredonia Mountain community, leading to a vehicle pursuit onto a very secluded and rough terrain road and to a location where the truck was unable to travel any further. The driver of the truck ran from the vehicle into the nearby woods while a passenger remained in the vehicle. One detectives gave chase for a distance into the woods before losing sight of the suspect and unable to find his way back. Due to the lack of cell phone and radio signal in this area, the detective lost the ability to communicate with anyone.

A search for the deputy and the suspect began a short while later. Due to the terrain, lack of communications, loss of daylight, and other factors, this search was very challenging. However, the manpower and resources from many surrounding local and state agencies quickly arrived and, within a few hours, the deputy was located, suffering only minor injury, for which he was taken to a local hospital. The suspect was not located and there was no indication he was still in this wooded area.

This investigation to identify and locate the suspect continues and Sequatchie County Sheriff Bill Phillips is not releasing any information in regard to that at this time. Deputies were able to remove the stolen truck from the rough terrain, and the vehicle will be returned to its owner.

Sheriff Phillips and the men and women of the Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all of the agencies and their personnel who came to assist in this search. “I would like to name them all but I’m sure one or more would be left out. I just want all of the responding agencies to know we appreciate them very much,” said Sheriff Phillips.