Suspect still sought in break-in, ATV theft at Tommy’s Motorsports
Tommy’s Motorsports posted these images on its Facebook page taken from its security cameras of this man who broke into the business off I-75, Exit 122, on Thursday morning, July 15, and stole a side-by-side all-terrain vehicle. The ATV was recovered, but the suspect got away from police after a chase that ended in the woods off Norris Freeway.
Clinton Chief of Police Vaughn Becker said the suspect wrecked the ATV in a creek just off Norris Freeway while being pursued by police Thursday morning, and escaped on foot into the wooded area south of Andersonville Highway.
Clinton and Norris police officers and Anderson County sheriff’s deputies joined in the search, but were unable to locate the man, who reportedly was barefoot and shirtless as he escaped into the woods.
Becker said the ATV was “60 percent submerged in the water” and had some damage to it when officers found it near the Andersonville Crossing shopping center area.
Norris Police Chief Michael Poole said he joined the search when his department was called for assistance, as the search initially was just inside the Norris city limits.
“We looked all through the area, even over as far as the interstate,” Poole said.
Traffic trying to go in both directions on Norris Freeway (U.S. 441) — south from Andersonville Highway and north from near the Clayton Homes plant — was snarled for a while as police set up roadblocks to keep people out of the search area for more than two hours.
On its Facebook page, Tommy’s Motorsports posted photos of the suspect taken from the store’s surveillance cameras, and said the man had broken into the building about 7:30 a.m. and wandered around inside for about 30 minutes before stealing the side-by-side and speeding away. The store doesn’t open until 10 a.m.
Tommy’s post asked that anyone who might have any information on the suspect and theft call the Clinton Police Department at 865-457-3112.