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Shortly before 10 a.m. on Sunday, a deputy of the Carter County Sheriff’s Office was at Johnson Avenue and Maple Street intersection when he observed a blue Ford Taurus being driven by a suspect who evaded arrest during a police pursuit the previous day in Carter County. During the incident on Saturday, April 22, deputies identified the fleeing subject as Dustin Austin, 35, of Elizabethton. The deputy activated his emergency lights and sirens and attempted to perform a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, who was later positively identified as Austin, accelerated the vehicle and refused to stop for the deputy. The pursuit continued down several streets and reached speeds of approximately 70 miles per hour with Austin failing to stop at multiple stop signs. At the intersection of South Watauga Avenue and East G Street, Austin ran the stop sign and pulled out into the path of oncoming traffic, which caused another vehicle to collide with the Ford driven by Austin. After the impact, Austin once again accelerated and ran off the roadway, striking traffic signs and a utility pole and nearly striking a pedestrian. The vehicle then struck a tree and came to a stop. Deputies took Austin into custody and had him checked by medical personnel before transporting him to the Carter County Detention Center. Austin was charged with felony evading arrest and felony reckless endangerment in connection with the pursuit. The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the crash caused by Austin during the pursuit and has charged Austin with second offense driving under the influence.

Deputies served Austin with outstanding warrants charging him with failure to appear and violation of probation. Deputies also served Austin with warrants in connection with the pursuit on Saturday which charge him with felony evading arrest, driving on a revoked license, violation of financial responsibility, and violation of the open container laws.
In the Saturday incident, deputies were investigating a report of a male subject who was unconscious in a vehicle near Valley Forge Christian Church. When deputies arrived on scene, they located Austin, whom they were familiar with from previous encounters with him, passed out in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle and observed an open beer can in a cup holder and several empty beer cans in the vehicle. Deputies were able to wake Austin, at which point he put the vehicle into drive and fled the scene. Deputies began to pursue him but terminated the pursuit due to Austin driving at a very high rate of speed and the fact deputies had positively identified him. The deputies then obtained warrants for Austin’s arrest in connection with the incident.

Due to the charge of second offense driving under the influence, Austin is being held at the Carter County Detention Center without bond.