The Herald-News - News Story

A man who ran over and killed a Rhea County teen while drunk in 1995 was caught in a high-speed chase down Dayton Mountain on Thursday, authorities said.

Wenell Jasper Dunn, 47, reportedly stole a black 1989 Chevrolet Corvette in Cumberland County, crossed through Bledsoe County but wasn't spotted here until he got to Rhea County.

Dunn is in the Rhea County Jail on a several charges including DUI, felony evading and reckless endangerment after deputies said he led them on a chase that reached 50 mph. A bond hasn't been set.

Dunn was convicted in April 1996 of vehicular homicide by intoxication after he struck and killed 15-year-old pedestrian Jeremy Flatt of Dayton while he was walking just after noon along Rhea County Highway.

Flatt died the next morning at a Knoxville hospital.

Dunn was sentenced to 10 years in state prison. He was granted parole in 2002 and concluded the program in 2004, according to Tennessee Department of Corrections officials.

He also has a criminal record that includes aggravated burglary.

Rhea County Sheriff Mike Neal said he is frustrated that Dunn was free to have another brush with the law Thursday.

"I think if he took a life, then he ought to be in prison the rest of his life," Neal said. "If we would be harsher on our convictions, it might make things different. We need harsher punishments for all these crimes."

Neal said Thursday's chase could have been much worse.

"He has no respect for people's lives or personal property," the sheriff said. "He could have run over somebody and killed or seriously injured them."

Deputy Aaron Loden spotted the stolen sports car heading toward Dayton on Highway 30 shortly after a call came in to be on the lookout for it.

Deputy Charlie Qualls soon joined the chase while other officers set up a roadblock at the intersection of Upper Cove Loop and Highway 30.

Sgt. Joe Keltch said the driver stopped and surrendered after seeing the roadblock.

Keltch said deputies chased the car for three or four miles on the mountain road.

Dunn reportedly told officers he was riding a bicycle when he saw the Corvette with the keys in it and thought it would be less tiring to drive it.

This is not the first time Dunn has reportedly run from police. Newspaper archives also state that he fled on foot after the fatal collision nearly 15 years ago.

Michael Reneau can be contacted at michael.reneau@rheaheraldnews.com.