Man Driving Truck Associated With Wal-Mart Thefts Runs From Police

Monday night a man driving a Ford Ranger pickup that had been reported used during thefts at Wal-Mart recently tried to evade police. An officer had spotted that pickup at Hwy 25-70 and old US 411. The driver of the pickup did not stop but turned onto old Hwy 411 at a high rate of speed. The driver stopped at the intersection of old Sevierville Highway and a female exited the passenger side and ran into the woods. The driver than sped away again turning onto Bridges Chapel Road and then to Old Sevierville Highway where he turned into the parking lot of the Community Mission Church, exited the vehicle while it was still in motion…that truck then crashed into the front porch of the church. Police chased after the driver eventually tasering him. The driver was 46 year old Larry Gunter. He is charged with reckless driving, reckless endangerment and evading arrest among other charges. There was significant damage to the church’s front porch where the truck crashed into it.