From The Loudon County Sheriff Department

TWO SEPARATE  PURSUITS LAND TWO MEN IN JAIL FOR THANKSGIVING DAY LOUDON COUNTY, TENN.

Two separate car chases found two men with a warm invite to the Loudon County and Monroe County Jails for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Daniel R. Meeker, 26 of Maryville, was the first to flee deputies just before midnight in Northern Loudon County. Deputy Chance Gray initially attempted to stop a black Chevrolet SUV for a traffic violation that was driven by Meeker. Meeker refused to stop and Gray, along with Sergeant Matt Fagiana, pursued the SUV into a neighborhood off of Martel Road. During the pursuit, Loudon County E-911 Dispatchers alerted deputies that Meeker was wanted out of Knox County for burglary and was wanted for a parole violation by the Tennessee Department of Corrections stemming from an Aggravated Burglary Charge.

After several minutes of pursuing Meeker by vehicle, he exited the SUV on Foster Drive and fled on foot. Gray, Fagiana and Gray’s K9 partner “Kora” pursued Meeker on foot through several yards eventually being led to a home by K9 Kora. While outside the home, the residences of the home began yelling for help and told LCSO officials that a man had ran in to their home and was upstairs. Deputies made entry into the home where Meeker was located and taken into custody by Deputy Skylar Mills, Deputy Chase Lane and Deputy Cody Bengel. Meeker was charged with Felony Evading and several other drug related charges. After enjoying some time at Loudon County and answering to the charges he’s collected here, he will be released to both Knox County and TDOC to face his outstanding charges there.

Shortly after Meeker was taken into custody, Loudon County E-911 alerted deputies that Monroe County was in pursuit of a drunk driver in Southern Loudon County. During the pursuit of the suspected intoxicated male, he ran his Nissan sedan off of Sunnyside Road and rolled several times before striking a tree. Monroe County Deputies were able to apprehend the male without further incident. The crash is being investigated by LCSO Deputy Austin McCoy. The intoxicated suspect was taken to Monroe County Jail to face charges by Monroe County Authorities.

These two wild turkeys are safely behind bars Thanksgiving morning thanks to the dedicated work of our professional law enforcement officers. And for them, we are thankful.

Obey the law. And don’t come to Loudon County if you want to be a bad guy.