The Blount County Sheriff’s Office says two men are charged after 350 gallons of stolen diesel fuel is found in their minivan.
Sheriff James Lee Berrong says a deputy was patrolling East Lamar Alexander Parkway when he saw a Dodge Caravan parked on the far side of Lem’s Korner’s parking lot, the minivan pulled out going below the speed limit so the deputy followed the van but the driver, 28-year-old Arianley Camejo-Morales of Miami, Florida, did not stop and continued driving at low speeds before crashing into a tree in the 2200 block of Sevierville Road.
He and his passenger, 23-year-old Roberto Gutierrez-Morales of Houston, Texas, ran from the scene but were arrested.
Deputies found a 250-gallon gas tank and two 50-gallon cylinders filled with diesel fuel. Additionally, a hole cut in the van’s floorboard was found, which deputies believe was used to siphon fuel from the gas station’s holding tanks without leaving the van.
Both men have a bond hearing scheduled this (Wednesday) morning at 9 a.m..