Dowelltown Man Trying to Outrun State Trooper Found with Meth Lab Components

A Dowelltown man, trying to outrun a state trooper in a Thursday night pursuit, was found with meth lab components after he ran his car off the Old Snow Hill Road.
33 year old Jesse Comer Harris is charged with aggravated assault, evading arrest in a motor vehicle, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence, violation of the implied consent law for refusing a blood test, and tampering with evidence. His bond totals $85,000 and he will be in court on the charges February 21. Harris is on parole for being a violent offender.
Trooper Dewaine Jennings of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE Friday that the incident started around 7:10 p.m. Thursday after he stopped Harris’ car for erratic driving, weaving, and suspicion of driving under the influence. ” I tried to stop a 2000 Dodge Neon on Highway 70 west just west of DeKalb Market,” said Trooper Jennings. “The car pulled over like any other traffic stop. I made a passenger side approach, opened the passenger door, made eye contact with the driver. He pulls it down in drive and takes off at a high rate of speed, jerking the door out of my hand. At that point I ran back to my patrol car and gave pursuit to chase after him. We go Highway 70 west a short distance. He turned left over to the Old Snow Hill Road. I radioed DeKalb County and advised them that I was in pursuit down the Old Snow Hill Road. The sheriff was in the area along with Officer Jeremy Taylor. The sheriff set up at the end of old Snow Hill Road in the Dry Creek area. He (Harris) saw the blue lights I guess and figured something was up so he drove to the right off the roadway (at the foot of the hill) out into a field, crashed into a creek, and almost overturned the vehicle. At that point, he jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot. I chased him on foot through the creek and up into a wooded area around the creek where I found him laying down in the weeds and hiding. He was eating his marijuana, trying to get rid of the evidence. I went back and found a bag that he had pitched out in the creek that contained numerous items used to manufacture and process methamphetamine,” said Trooper Jennings
Harris was not injured and refused treatment by EMS. He was arrested and taken to the jail for booking.