Brian Keith Ivey. (The Herald/ Submitted Photo)

Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong confirmed a 38-year-old man is in custody following a pursuit that began in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and ended in west Blount County Dec. 2.

While conducting a surveillance operation, a park ranger witnessed what he believed to be a break-in of a vehicle parked at Chimney Tops Trailhead on Newfound Gap Rd.

The ranger observed the suspect, who was later identified as Brian Keith Ivey of Lafollette, leave the scene in a 1993 Ford F150 pick-up truck.

When rangers attempted to stop the vehicle on Little River Rd., the subject fled westbound.

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