|
Kingsport Police Department
200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX) |
|
|
| NEWS RELEASE | |||
| SUBJECT: | Suspect Apprehended After Fleeing Police on Motorcycle with 2 Children on Board | ||
| DATE: | July 15, 2014 | ||
| GENERAL NARRATIVE |
| On July 14, 2014 at approximately 11:55 AM a Kingsport Police Patrol Officer noticed a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle eastbound on Holston Valley Drive. The officer observed the motorcycle being operated by an adult male; however, it was also occupied by a boy riding behind the operator, and another younger boy riding in front of the operator. The officer saw that the child riding in front was not wearing a helmet.
The officer initiated a traffic stop on the motorcycle, but the operator accelerated away at a high rate of speed. The motorcycle promptly turned east on Ravine Road, then immediately east on Cassel Drive where it passed a vehicle by driving on the wrong side of the road. Fearing that the reckless motorcyclist would crash with the children on board, the officer backed off and turned off his emergency lights, while still attempting to keep sight of the motorcycle and alerting other officers in the area via radio of the motorcycle’s direction of travel. Still at a high rate of speed, the motorcycle turned north on Gibson Mill Road, circumvented the roundabout by going the wrong way (to the left rather than to the right) head-on into oncoming vehicles, then back onto West Ravine Road. The motorcycle then turned south on Gibson Mill Road and east on Robertson Street, finally pulling into the driveway of 1054 Robertson Street where another officer in the area was able to intercept. The operator was identified as Shaun C. Hite. The minor boys on board were found to be a 9 year old (the passenger on the back) and a 5 year old (the passenger in front without a helmet). Their mother was summoned to the scene, and they were released into her custody. Mr. Hite was promptly arrested and charged with: 1) Felony Reckless Endangerment (2 counts) 2) Felony Evading Arrest by Motor Vehicle 3) Driving on a Revoked License Further investigation revealed that Mr. Hite had absconded from the John R. Hay House (a local community corrections facility) in August of 2013 and was wanted on an outstanding warrant for violation of probation. He was transported to the Kingsport City Jail where he was confined overnight pending arraignment. He was arraigned the next morning at which point he was ordered to be held without bond. |
| SUSPECT INFORMATION | |
| Name | Shaun C. Hite |
| Age | Date of Birth 8/30/1985
28 Years of Age |
| Race/Gender | White/Male |
| Residency | 130 East Carters Valley Road
Kingsport, TN |
| Charge(s) | 1) Felony Reckless Endangerment (2 Counts)
2) Felony Evading Arrest by Motor Vehicle 3) Driving on a Revoked License |
| RELEASING OFFICER | ||
 |
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit |
|
