Collegedale K9 Team begins chase of wanted man in 3 states

COLLEGEDALE, Tennessee – An attempted traffic stop in Collegedale ended with ended up at a hotel near Bonny Oaks Drive.

The new K9 team of officers Shell and Goose were on their first patrol when officer Shell tried to pull over the vehicle on Lee Highway for a traffic violation.

When he walked up on the driver, the vehicle sped away.

Officer Shell chose not to pursue since the vehicle almost hit several others making its escape.

But Hamilton County deputies soon spotted it on Volkswagen Drive and the chase was on.

It continued until the driver reached the hotel near bonny Oaks and Lee Highway.

He got out to run for it, but was chased down.

The driver was James Falvo from Murphy, North Carolina.

Officers found he was wanted in Georgia for escape, theft and running from police.

He was also wanted in Hamilton County for assault and in Murphy for questioning about an arson.

“The good police work of our new K9 team helped to put an escaped felon behind bars on their first day at work” said Chief Jack Sapp. “This is one of the many reasons we were so proud to reintroduce the K9 program at our department.”