Sevier County Jail Inmate Recaptured after Daring Escape

An inmate is back in custody at the Sevier County Jail after escaping, fleeing in a stolen car and then ramming patrol cars of officers attempting to recapture him.

At approximately 3:34 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2015, inmate Stanley J. Wallace, 24, of Kingston, Tenn., jumped the fence of an outdoor recreation yard at the Sevier County Jail Annex, forced open a gate and escaped.

A corrections officer pursued Wallace and was informed by a bystander that Wallace jumped into a red Chevy Blazer at a business about 300 yards away from the Sevier County Jail Annex and fled, traveling north on Old Knoxville Hwy. The guard communicated the information to responding officers.

Stanley J. Wallace, 24, of Kingston, Tenn.

At around 3:48 p.m., a Sevierville Police Officer spotted a red SUV traveling on Highway 66 that matched the description of the getaway car. It then turned onto Alder Branch Rd. and pulled into a driveway.

The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but Wallace struck the police cruiser as he tried to flee in the SUV. Another Sevierville Police Officer arrived on the scene and Wallace stuck his patrol car multiple times with the SUV trying to elude the officers.

An officer exited his cruiser and with gun pointed, ordered Wallace to stop. When Wallace drove the SUV toward the officers in another attempt to get away, one of the officers incapacitated the vehicle by shooting out a rear tire.

Wallace was taken into custody at that time without further incident. Officers transported him to the main Sevier County Jail where he faces additional charges, including Felony Jail Escape, 2 counts of Aggravated Assault on an Officer, 2 counts Felony Vandalism and 1 count of theft of a motor vehicle.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol was called to the scene to investigate the damage to the police vehicles and additional charges against Wallace may be pending. The incident was still under investigation.

According to Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals, Wallace was awaiting trial on a December 2014 theft charge.

UPDATE:

The Sevierville Police Department released the names of the officers involved in the capture of escaped inmate Stanley Wallace as SPD Sgt. Bryan Lewelling and SPD Officer Mike Israel. Sgt. Lewelling is the officer who shot three times with his pistol into the right rear tire of the Blazer. The department also released this updated arrest photo:

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.