WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Two individuals, Ryan Waye, 39, of Rogersville, and Tesha McDowell, 41, of Newport, are facing several charges after a carjacking incident occurred at a business in Gray on Wednesday.
According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), deputies were dispatched to a business located on Bob Jobe Road in Gray, where the victims reported a disturbing encounter. Waye and McDowell had initially arranged to retrieve personal items from a repossessed vehicle.
However, things quickly escalated. McDowell reportedly drove away from the scene in the repossessed vehicle at high speed, narrowly avoiding hitting four people in the process, authorities said.
Meanwhile, Waye allegedly threatened the business owner with a firearm before fleeing in a separate vehicle.
The WCSO issued a “Be on the Look Out” (BOLO) alert to local agencies, which triggered a rapid response. Using the Flock Camera network, deputies tracked the suspects’ movements.
Less than an hour after the BOLO was issued, authorities in Hawkins County successfully apprehended Waye and McDowell. The pair was taken to the Washington County Detention Center.
The charges against both individuals include:
Aggravated robbery
Carjacking
Theft of a motor vehicle
Aggravated assault (five counts)
Reckless endangerment (four counts)
Additionally, McDowell faces a vandalism charge. Both suspects are being held without bond and are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.
