More charges have been filed against a man who once served as a Tellico Plains Alderman.
Wicky Shepherd was arrested late last Wednesday night after he reportedly helped his son Christopher elude arrest after a brief chase. Wicky Shepherd was removed from the alderman board in 2008.

Shepherd was originally charged with tampering with evidence, but more charges were filed Monday morning. He has now also been charged with theft of property over $10,000 and burglary.
The incident began around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday night when Tellico Plains Police Officer Jason Russell said he was pursuing Christopher Shepherd in a red truck when Shepherd pulled into his father's junkyard and took off on foot. Russell exited his patrol car and chased after him.

While Russell was pursuing his son, Wicky Shepherd, 59, Southard Street, Tellico Plains, reportedly took the keys out of the patrol car and locked the doors. He then moved his son's truck to another spot from where he had left it.

When Russell returned without catching Shepherd, he found his car turned off and the doors locked and the emergency lights still running. Wicky Shepherd admitted he was the one who had locked the car and taken the keys.

Shepherd refused to return the key, saying Russell had no reason to be on his property, that he lived in the county and Russell was a city officer. Russell said he had been in a chase that started on city property and had ended at Shepherd's house.

Russell was chasing Christopher Shepherd after he spotted him missing a taillight on the truck and knowing his license was revoked. Russell said Shepherd did 70 mph in a 35 mph zone, was all over the road and did a donut in the middle of Highway 68.

 Christopher Shepherd does have a past criminal record and reportedly is wanted also for a probation violation. As of Monday he had not been found, but will face charges of reckless driving and evading arrest.

Wicky Shepherd was removed from the Tellico Board of Alderman in June 2008 after it was discovered he lived just outside the town limits. Shepherd at the time claimed he was living in former alderman J.C. Walker's house, but he never proved that was his residence. He then claimed he would put an RV in town and live in it, but he never did and never appeared for another board meeting. He had been an alderman since 1999.

michael.thomason@advocateanddemocrat.com | 442-4575