KPD e-News Release: Suspect in Custody in Failed Early Morning Burger King Armed Robbery Attempt

On March 30, 2016 at approximately 5:00 PM, Kingsport Police Detectives located Mr. Pritchett at 1441 Waverly Road in Kingsport where he was arrested without incident. He was transported to and confined within the Kingsport City Jail. He was arraigned earlier this morning, where his bond was set at $15,000 by the presiding judge. He presently remains incarcerated and is scheduled for transfer to the Sullivan County Jail later today.

As previously released:

On March 28, 2016 at approximately 5:45 AM, an unknown suspect attempted an armed robbery at Burger King, located at 1209 North Eastman Road in Kingsport. The suspect entered the restaurant using the entrance on the Ming Garden side of the restaurant.

He approached the counter, began pacing back and forth, and shouted for the employees, who were in the back kitchen area, to come to the counter. While impatiently waiting, he walked around the counter, helped himself to a beverage cup, and returned to the customer side of the counter.

As the manager approached the counter, she sensed something was amiss. Her suspicions were confirmed when the suspect drew and brandished what appeared to be a black semi-automatic handgun from where he had it concealed in the waistband of his pants. The manager and the other employees immediately fled in fear out of the rear employee exit to an area of safety outside of the restaurant.

The suspect then fled the scene empty-handed out of the front exit on the Eastman Road side of the restaurant. He was last seen running on foot into a wooded area in the vicinity of Pineola and Carolina Avenues directly across North Eastman Road from Burger King. Responding officers attempted to track him using a K-9 but were unsuccessful. The suspect remains at large and should be considered armed and dangerous.

The suspect is described as a tall, slender, white male, standing approximately 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches in height. He is believed to possibly be in his early twenties. He was last seen wearing a long-sleeved gray shirt, black pants, and black gloves. He was wearing a black knit cap and a blue bandana which concealed most of his facial features from view.

The entire incident was captured on surveillance video. Two photographs of the suspect taken from that footage have been included in this release. Two excerpts of that footage have been made available for viewing on the K.P.D. YouTube channel via the following links:

https://youtu.be/DUp4FV7iljA

https://youtu.be/WTO_ez0Pjx0

Anyone who may know the identity of this suspect or who may have any information which may assist with this investigation is asked to contact Detectives in the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division at 423-229-9429 or call Kingsport Central Dispatch at 423-246-9111.

Alternatively, if an individual who is able to supply information related to this or any other case wishes not to be identified, tips can be submitted anonymously via online “Citizen Feedback” forms available at the following link:

http://police.KingsportTN.gov/Citizen_Feedback

23 Years of Age

Kingsport, TN