Attempted armed robbery suspect arrested

By JENNIFER RAYMOND

rcraymond@bellsouth.net

Police have arrested a man who allegedly attempted to rob the KenJo Market on Gallaher Road Thursday morning — and who is also suspected of robbing three stores in Knoxville.

Two people were injured in the Kingston holdup.

Kingston police where called at 7:53 a.m. about an attempted armed robbery.

When they arrived, the suspect, Joseph Duggan of Lenoir City, had fled.

However, Duggan was caught around noon on Kingston Pike in Knoxville after being pursued by Tennessee Highway Patrol.

A highway patrol officer got behind Duggan on I-40 and attempted to pull him over on Campbell Station Road.

In response, Duggan fled toward Kingston Pike and crashed in front of the Kohl’s department store.

Duggan was taken to the hospital for treatment.

His passenger, and the person the getaway vehicle was registered to, Vicki Hartline, was also taken into custody.

Duggan went into the KenJo Market and held a knife demanding the clerk open the register, according to the police report.

Duggan then got into a struggle with the clerk, James Hayes, who was injured in the right hand, the report continues.

At the time, there were beer distributors in the store. One attempted to tackle the man and was stabbed in the stomach.

Washam said the distributor, Travis Arney, was taken to Parkwest Medical Center by Roane County Ambulance. He did not believe Arney had life-threatening injuries.

“He actually got a couple good punches in,” Washam said.

Washam added that Duggan ran out the door and grabbed a purse from clerk Eva Claybourne, who was just arriving to work.

He the fled in a white Mitsubishi Eclipse.

“He didn’t get anything from KenJo,” Washam said.

Washam said the suspect, after fleeing KenJo, robbed a Walgreens in Knoxville.

He is also suspect in the robbery of two other places in Knoxville Wednesday night, Washam added.

Washam said after reviewing surveillance video and receiving a tip from Loudon Police Department after running the car’s tag, they had a possible ID of Duggan.

The Kingston Police Department worked with Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the Knoxville Po-lice Department and the Loudon Police Department on the investigation.