Police searching for suspect in high speed chase early Monday

Police are searching for a suspect who led Bluff City and Sullivan County authorities on a high-speed chase early Monday. The Bluff City Police Department and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office were notified of a stolen red Hyundai with a Nevada registration traveling on Highway 126. According to a release from the BCPD, authorities located the vehicle traveling south on Highway 11E just after 1 a.m. The vehicle was stopped and two passengers and a driver, later identified by police as Ricky Hatfield, were inside and provided identification. As officers asked Hatfield to exit the vehicle, he fled with the passengers still inside. A high-speed chase ensued before abandoning the car in the Boones Creek area. Both passengers were located but Hatfield is still at large. Hatfield has active felony warrants out of Bristol, Tennessee for kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and aggravated burglary and is wanted for Violation of Probation in Sullivan County.
Anyone with information on Hatfield’s whereabouts to call 911. Caution is advised if you encounter Hatfield.