A police pursuit that began with a traffic stop in Livingston ended with two Florida men arrested in Kentucky after authorities recovered suspected drugs and firearms reportedly thrown from their vehicle.
Livingston Police attempted to stop the vehicle Tuesday for a window tint violation, but the driver fled north on Byrdstown Highway. Pickett County deputies and Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers joined the pursuit as the suspects traveled toward the Kentucky state line.
Authorities said occupants of the vehicle threw multiple firearms and suspected narcotics from the vehicle during the chase. Officers later recovered the discarded items, although the exact quantities have not been released.
Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle using spike strips near the Wolf River Bridge, but the pursuit continued into Clinton County, Kentucky. The driver eventually lost control and struck a Pickett County Sheriff’s Office patrol car. No injuries were reported.
Authorities identified the driver as Christian Messick of Leesburg, Florida, and the passenger as Michaelan Robinson of Panama City Beach, Florida.
Messick faces Kentucky charges including wanton endangerment of a police officer, possession of methamphetamine, fleeing or evading police, and felony marijuana trafficking. Authorities said Messick also faces additional charges in Pickett County.
Robinson faces a methamphetamine possession charge in Kentucky.
Messick was taken to the Clinton County Jail, while Robinson was booked into the Russell County Detention Center.
The pursuit involved cooperation among Livingston Police, the Pickett County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol and Kentucky law enforcement agencies.