Rhea County Sheriff’s Department Press Release:
On Friday, July 26, 2024, at approximately 1:45pm Rhea County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a stolen vehicle on Morgan Springs Road on Dayton Mountain. The reporting parties stated that their vehicle, a 2000 Silver Jeep, was stolen out of their driveway and left towards Bledsoe County. Rhea County Sheriff’s Department Deputies and Bledsoe County Sheriff’s Deputies searched the area with no contact. At approximately 3:20pm K-9 Deputy Paul observed a vehicle matching the description of the stolen vehicle around the 3000 block of Dayton Mountain Hwy. K-9 Deputy Paul attempted to make contact with the vehicle when it took off at a high rate of speed, a short pursuit ensued, which ended at the end of Reed Road on a power line access road. Rhea County Sheriff’s Department Deputies, Dayton Police Department Officers, and Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency Officers set up a perimeter, Rhea County Emergency Management Agency supplied a drone, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit assisted with a K-9 track to locate the suspect. The Hamilton County K-9 unit was able to start a track up the side of the mountain in very steep and rough terrain. The K-9 was able to locate the suspect in a short amount of time. The suspect, later identified as Joseph D. Brown, was taken into custody by Rhea and Hamilton County Deputies following a brief struggle. Mr. Brown was transported to the Rhea County Jail where he was charged with: Felony Theft $5,000-$10,000, Felony Evading Motor Vehicle, Resisting Arrest, Reckless Endangerment x2, Evading, and Vandalism over $1,000. Mr. Brown also had several outstanding warrants from Hamilton County and the United States Marshal Service for Violation of Probation and Parole.
Sheriff Neal expresses his gratitude to all agencies involved in this call for a quick and safe resolution and for excellent cooperation between all involved. “The teamwork shown by all the agencies involved led to the quick apprehension of Brown. I am grateful for the relationship that we have with all of our surrounding agencies.” – Sheriff Mike Neal
(Photo courtesy Rhea County Sheriff’s Department)
(The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.)