Police have arrested the man accused of stealing a THP cruiser Sunday morning (6/30/2024) in Smith County and later crashing it in Putnam County.
It all began after a Trooper spotted 55-year-old Charles D. Lawson and 42-year-old Karen Vallie sleeping in a stolen car at a rest area in Smith County. The Trooper handcuffed them both and while the woman was being interviewed, Lawson gained control of the trooper’s vehicle and fled the scene. The stolen patrol vehicle was later found crashed Sunday in Putnam County around Tucker Ridge Road and authorities began looking for Lawson in that area.
After days of searching, Tuesday afternoon THP Cookeville reported that Charles Lawson had been taken into custody and thanked the assistance from the public.