Blog: KPD News & Alerts

Detroit Man Charged Federally After Fleeing from Officers with KPD Officer Inside of Car

A Detroit man is in custody after fleeing from the scene of a traffic stop with a Knoxville Police Department officer inside of the car on Sunday.

On Sunday, April 24, KPD officers stopped a car at the Shell gas station on Clinton Highway for a traffic violation. Officers noted the smell of marijuana coming from the car, asked the driver to step out of the car for further investigation and the driver complied. However, at some point during the process of officers searching the car, the subject, identified as 35-year-old Michael Harris of Detroit, Michigan, was able to get into the driver’s seat and drive away with a KPD officer inside the car.

Harris drove north on Clinton Highway before crashing near Pleasant Ridge Road. Harris then ran from the car and was captured a short time later by responding Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

The officer who was inside of the car suffered serious injuries in the crash and was transported to the UT Medical Center via AMR. The officer, identified as Sergeant Michael Geddings, suffered a broken arm and a severe laceration to the head among other injuries, cuts and bruises. He has since been released from the hospital and is in good spirits.

“We are incredibly thankful and fortunate that Sergeant Geddings was not injured more seriously during the chaotic events that unfolded on Sunday,” Chief Eve Thomas said. “This incident once again illuminates the inherent risks that officers face during even the most innocuous roles they fulfill.”

Further investigation revealed that Harris is a convicted felon who had left the gun show on Clinton Highway just prior to the traffic stop. It is believed that Harris made a purchase at the gun show from a private seller. Officers located multiple firearms, a large amount of methamphetamine, and additional quantities of heroin and marijuana inside of the car Harris was driving.

Two other cars were involved in the crash. A total of five individuals were transported to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, including Sergeant Geddings. Due to the crash happening outside of KPD's jurisdiction, the Knox County Sheriff's Office worked the crash.

Harris was charged today in federal court.

Posted by serland On 26 April, 2022 at 5:22 PM