High Speed Pursuit From NC Ends In Cocke County

Cocke County deputies captured a man possibly wanted from out of state. The Cocke County Sheriff’s office was notified this morning by the North Carolina Highway Patrol that they were in pursuit on I-40 of a red van with Illinois tags that was heading westbound. NC troopers terminated their pursuit at the Tennessee state line. Two Cocke County deputies spotted the suspect van near MM 438 on I-40. The van was traveling at 102 mph. The Tennessee Highway Patrol successfully deployed spike strips on I-40 between exits 435 and 423. The driver of the van left the interstate at exit 432 and headed east back towards Newport. The driver showed no regard for traffic safety as he ran numerous red lights but finally crashed into a tree line on East Hwy 25/70 just past Farra Way. The suspect was spotted walking old Asheville Highway near the Cocke County Landfill. When ordered by deputies to stop, he turned and made a gesture with his hand imitating a gun. That was when a Newport police officer took the suspect to the ground. He was identified as 34 year old Christian Rodriguez of Staten Island, NY. He is currently being held in the Cocke County jail.