EDITOR’S CLARIFICATION: 

In the Tuesday, April 11, 2017, edition of the Elizabethton Star a story was published with the headline: “County man faces charges following police pursuit.” The story was also published on the Elizabethton Star’s website. The story was about the arrest of 47-year-old Nikos Vamvaketis, of Roan Mountain. In the story, Carter County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Nick Andes was quoted as saying: “Mr. Vamvaketis also advised that he did not have a permit to carry a weapon in Tennessee and wasn’t aware of the state’s laws. However, Mr. Vamvaketis did advise me that he was a former Beech Mountain, N.C., police officer.”
Following the publication of this story, the Elizabethton Star was contacted by the Beech Mountain, N.C., Police Department regarding Vamvaketis’s claim to be a former officer for that department. “He has never had any affiliation with us at all, not even with the town of Beech Mountain,” said Capt. Tim Barnett of the Beech Mountain, N.C., Police Department.
Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford said he had also spoken with the Beech Mountain Police Department and confirmed Mr. Vamvaketis had never been affiliated with the agency despite his claim at the time of his arrest by Investigator Andes.

A Roan Mountain man faces multiple charges following a police pursuit and traffic stop Sunday night.

Carter County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Nick Andes arrested Nikos Vamvaketis, 47, of 141 Hogum Hollow Road, Roan Mountain, Sunday night and charged him with felony evading arrest by a motor vehicle, illegal carrying of a weapon, possession of Schedule VI drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, speeding, and failure to obey a traffic control device.

Andes said he was on routine patrol on Highway 19E in Roan Mountain when he saw a motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed.

“My moving radar unit showed the motorcycle to be traveling at 76 mph in a 55 mph zone,” Andes said, adding he turned his car around and activated his emergency lights and siren to stop the motorcycle. “I observed the motorcycle make a right onto Hogum Hollow Road and appeared to attempt to speed up. I observed the operator turn and look at me during this time.”

While following the motorcycle, Andes said the driver failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Hogum Hollow Road and Crabtree Road. The officer said he caught up to the motorcycle as it turned into a driveway at 141 Hogum Hollow Road.

Andes placed the driver into custody and identified him as Vamvaketis. According to the police report, Andes found Vamvaketis in possession of a loaded semi-automatic pistol, marijuana in a pill bottle, and a small metal marijuana pipe. Andes said he advised Vamvaketis of his Miranda rights and the man said he understood them.

“I then asked Mr. Vamvaketis why he didn’t stop for me, and he stated that he didn’t hear my siren or see my flashing blue and red lights,” Andes said. “I then advised Mr. Vamvaketis that I observed him turn his  head and look at me on at least two separate occasions during the pursuit and he hung his head and stated, ‘I understand.’”

“Mr. Vamvaketis also advised that he did not have a permit to carry a weapon in Tennessee and wasn’t aware of the state’s laws. However, Mr. Vamvaketis did advise me that he was a former Beech Mountain, N.C., police officer,” Andes added.

Following his arrest, Vamvaketis was booked into the Carter County Detention Center but was later released after posting a $9,500 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Carter County General Sessions Court on June 13.