Conley rams patrol car head-on; eventually apprehended

CARYVILLE, TN (WLAF) – A weaving orange sedan on Hwy 116 in Ridgewood caught the eye of Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputy Preston Mullins. It was Oct. 23 when Mullins noticed the car was weaving from the north to south bound lane.

When Mullins attempted to stop the orange sedan, the driver, identified as Tyler Wayne Conley, pulled over into the parking lot of Telos Global, but then took off north, Caryville bound, on Hwy 116 at a high rate of speed. Mullins began to pursue the sedan with lights and sirens as he learned from central dispatch the tags on the car actually belonged to a black Buick registered to Conley.

The vehicle turned onto Ridgewood Lane and came to a stop, according to a report from the sheriff’s department. Mullins got out of his cruiser and attempted to approach the orange sedan. The car then made an abrupt right turn traveling through a grassy field before driving back on to Hwy 116 heading south toward Rocky Top. Conley then allegedly struck Mullins patrol car head-on.

Mullins stepped out of his cruiser and drew his weapon giving multiple orders for Conley to get out of his car, but he refused and accelerated attempting to push Mullins cruiser out of the road. However, Mullins was able to get a clear look at Conley through the windshield. Conley reversed his sedan and proceeded past Mullins traveling south. The patrol car was disabled from the damage sustained from Conley.

A few days later on Nov. 2, just before 11pm, Mullins along with Sgt. Josh Jeffers were informed by the sheriff’s department narcotics unit of Conley’s location and were told he had active warrants.

Mullins, Jeffers and LaFollette Police Department Sgt. James Farmer traveled to 907 East Prospect Street, LaFollette where they saw Conley through a window of the home. When Conley saw Jeffers, he allegedly ran out of the house and down an embankment in the back. Jeffers, Farmer and Mullins gave chase and were able to arrest Conley.

Conley, 37, 2119 Long Hollow Rd, LaFollette was charged with reckless endangerment, aggravated assault on a police officer, felony evading arrest, drivers to exercise due care, failure to maintain lane, vandalism over $1,000 and violation registration law.

According to jail records, this was the 17th arrest for the unemployed Conley. He remains housed in the Campbell County Jail this morning without bond awaiting his court date on Tuesday. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 11/15/2021-6AM)