GATE CITY -- A pair of brothers allegedly led multiple police agencies in a high-speed pursuit Monday, driving into oncoming traffic on U.S. Route 23 before dumping a stolen pickup truck in Kingsport.
As of late Monday afternoon one of the suspects, the driver, had been apprehended following a foot chase, while authorities were still seeking the second. Lowrey Dale Moorefield, 18, of Kingsport, has been charged by Scott County authorities with felony alluding arrest and felony endangerment and booked into Kingsport City Jail.
In Kingsport, Moorefield is additionaly charged with motor vehicle theft, evading arrest, resisting arrest and driving on a suspended license.
The incident reportedly began at approximately 12:30 p.m. in Gate City, Va., when Scott County Central Dispatch received a report of a stolen 1982 Ford pickup truck.
The call was dispatched to Gate City police, but Scott County Sheriff's Office investigators responded first due to their close proximity, authorities there said. The sheriff's office investigators attempted to stop the truck at the intersection of Kane Street and U.S. Route 23 in Gate City, but the suspects reportedly refused and fled.
A Gate City police officer and Scott County sheriff's deputy joined in the chase, which reportedly reached speeds of 70 mph through Weber City, Scott County authorities said.
Moorefield, who was identified by Scott County and Kingsport authorities as the truck's driver, allegedly drove the pickup across the median of Route 23 into oncoming traffic at the Tennessee state line. Scott County authorities said Moorefield then crossed back over into the southbound lane of traffic before driving into Lynn Garden, where Kingsport police joined the pursuit.
Moorefield allegedly turned off Lynn Garden Drive onto Moore Street before he and the second suspect, who authorities only identified as his brother, abandoned the truck when a second Kingsport Police Department officer cut them off.
Lowery Moorefield was reportedly arrested by the KPD following a short foot chase. Authorities were still reportedly searching the area Monday afternoon for the truck's second passenger, authorities in Scott County and Gate City said.
Authorities in Scott County said the pickup truck in question had been recently reported stolen from Collins Auto Center located at 952 Lynn Garden Drive in Kingsport. Police said they were alerted to the stolen vehicle when the car lot's owner spotted it while driving through the Gate City area and reported it to Scott County 911.