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WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The man arrested after an all-day manhunt in the Oak Grove area of Washington County, Tennessee on Wednesday faces a dozen criminal charges.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) announced on Thursday that Michael Vernon Edwards, 39, is being held without bond due to a violation of parole charge.
Edwards was taken into custody by deputies and U.S. Marshals shortly after 5 p.m. in a field off Highway 36 on Wednesday. Before that, multiple agencies conducted a manhunt to find him.
According to the WCSO, Edwards stole a sheriff’s office patrol car after being placed in the back of it. He allegedly crashed it on Cora Lane and ran from the scene, prompting the manhunt.
After he was found, Edwards was transported to the Washington County Detention Center. He faces the following charges, in addition to the parole violation:
- Assault Against a First Responder
- Simple Possession/Casual Exchange
- 2 counts Resisting Arrest
- Driving on a Revoked License, Second or More Offense
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Damage to Vehicle
- Reckless Driving
- Aggravated Assault
- Theft of Property
- Escape
- Evading Arrest
The WCSO stated in a news release that Edwards was previously convicted of 27 counts of initiation of process to manufacture meth in Sullivan County. He was sentenced to serve 22 years in the Tennessee Prison System, the WCSO reports. Edwards was conditionally pardoned in November 2024 after serving 11 years of that sentence.
He is set to appear in court on Thursday afternoon.
