KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knoxville Police Department said Monday that David Esserman, 52, was arrested and charged after driving away from police during a traffic stop and eventually crashing into a Knox County Sheriff's Office cruiser.
KPD said officers were on a directed patrol in response to a drug complaint in the area of McTeer Street. At around 12:20 p.m. on Monday, the police department said officers pulled over Esserman for traffic violations.
KPD said officers suspected that Esserman had narcotics following an initial investigation, and asked him to step out of the car. Esserman instead began to drive off, KPD said, and two officers tried to stop it.
The police department said both officers were injured after being drug by Esserman's car, and were treated for minor injuries at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
A chase began, and deputies from KCSO responded. The sheriff's office used a helicopter for additional help, and later took the lead on the pursuit. It ended in the area of Whittle Springs Road and Hoitt Avenue, in East Knoxville.
KPD said after the chase ended, Esserman ran over the foot of a deputy and rammed a KCSO cruiser that had a deputy in it. He was taken into custody and his car was searched.
The police department said around 350 grams of suspected marijuana was found, as well as around $40,000 in cash. Essermann faces four counts of aggravated assault, as well as two counts of evading arrest, resisting arrest and the sale and delivery of a Schedule VI drug.