A Knoxville man is in jail after he drove his vehicle into a pond during a high speed chase early this morning. Shawn Rory O’Brien faces numerous charges as a result of that chase. Knoxville Police Chief Dan Losada says shortly after midnight, an officer approached a suspicious vehicle. The vehicle, driven by O’Brien, took off, leading officers on a chase through the city with speeds peaking in the 60 mile per hour range. O’Brien eventually drove his vehicle into a pond east of South Fifth Street on the western edge of Pine Knolls Country Club. He escaped uninjured, and was arrested afterward.

Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies were there as backup in case Knoxville officers needed assistance. Losada says that he believes O’Brien may have fled because of fear of a driving while barred charge.

O’Brien was involved in a high-speed chase earlier this year as well. In April, he was arrested and charged with operating while intoxicated, failure to maintain control, leaving the scene of an accident, driving while barred, eluding police, reckless driving, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of excessive speed, two counts of failure to obey stop sign, improper rear lamps, improper use of registration, and operating without registration.

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