Updated: January 9, 2018

A SUMMERTOWN MAN IS BEHIND BARS AFTER TRYING TO FLEE FROM AUTHORITIES.  ACCORDING TO THE LAWRENCE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, 28 YEAR OLD TIMOTHY RAY GARDINER WAS ARRESTED SUNDAY NIGHT FOLLOWING A CHASE BY DEPUTIES.  REPORTS INDICATE OFFICERS ATTEMPTED TO STOP A 1999 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE DRIVEN BY GARDINER AROUND 8 P-M FOR A TAIL LIGHT VIOLATION ON CHURCH STREET IN ETHRIDGE.  GARDINER FLED IN THE VEHICLE TO SOUTH BRACE ROAD THEN TO WEST EDAN ROAD BEFORE HE EVENTUALLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FLIPPED THEN LANDED UPRIGHT.  GARDINER WAS APPREHENDED BY DEPUTIES AFTER HE STARTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE.  DEPUTIES FOUND A BAG CONTAINING 3-POINT-1-6 GRAMS OF METH IN ADDITION TO DRUG PARAPHERNALIA IN VEHICLE.  A FEMALE IN THE S-U-V WAS CLEARED BY E-M-S AND LATER RELEASED FROM CUSTODY.  GARDINER WAS BOOKED INTO THE LAWRENCE COUNTY JAIL ON A HOST OF CHARGES INCLUDING FELONY EVADING ARREST, POSSESSION OF METH FOR RESALE, POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, AND FAILURE TO YIELD TO AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE.  GARDINER COULD FACE MORE CHARGES BY THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL.