On Saturday March 15, 2008 at 12:41 a.m. Officer Kasey Higginbotham stopped a 1990 Chevrolet truck in the 7900 Block of Standifer Gap road for a Light Law Violation. The driver was identified as James Mathew Smith, who also was wanted in Bradley County for a probation violation. When the Officers were going to place Mr. Smith in custody he drove his truck away from the scene. Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputies Kasey Higginbotham, Breeland Kilgore and K-9 Officer Hank Ritter initiated a pursuit of the suspect. They traveled to Jenkins Road then onto 1-75 north towards Bradley County. The suspect left the freeway at exit 20 and traveled onto side streets and into several residents’ yards. During this process he also attempted to ram Officer Breeland Kilgore’s patrol vehicle. The suspect pulled onto the lot of the Bradley County Justice Center where he was taken into custody by Bradley County Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with the following violations: Aggravated Assault against an Officer, Felony Evading, and two counts of Vandalism, Reckless Endangerment, Light Law Violation, Traffic Control Device Violation and Financial Responsibility. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland Police Department and Tennessee Highway Patrol.