A Johnson City man faces charges after authorities say he provided aid to a wanted fugitive who reportedly shot an Elizabethton police officer last week.
On Thursday, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Brian Fraley arrested 31-year-old William Edward “Eddie” Deloach, of Charleston Square Apartments in Johnson City, and charged him with being an accessory after the fact for harboring a fugitive, which is a “Class E” felony under state law.
Fraley said the Carter County Sheriff’s Office received felony warrants from Pulaski County, Virginia, for the arrest of Curtis Dugger, adding that a federal detainer warrant had also been issued on Dugger. The TBI opened a fugitive investigation based on the warrants for Dugger’s arrest, Fraley said.
“On Feb. 19, 2016, Dugger was located by law enforcement officers in Carter County, Tennessee,” Fraley said. “Dugger exchanged gunfire and wounded an Elizabethton Police department officer during the attempted arrest. Dugger died shortly thereafter.”
The officer, Elizabethton Police Department Capt. Jerry Bradley, sustained two gunshot wounds and was treated at a local hospital. He has since been released and is recovering from his injuries according to EPD officials.
Federal court documents revealed Dugger was on federal supervised release following a 2011 conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of unregistered pipe bombs. Federal authorities had filed a detainer warrant charging Dugger with violation of supervised release after Pulaski County, Virginia, filed warrants for Dugger’s arrest in connection with a kidnapping incident.
“On February 17, 2016, warrants were issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia, Pulaski County, for abduction by force of a female victim, and armed burglary with intent to commit murder, rape, robbery or arson,” a federal court document said.
The fugitive investigation initiated by the TBI continued after the shootout between Dugger and police, Fraley said.
“The investigation revealed that William Edward ‘Eddie’ Deloach assisted Curtis Dugger in eluding and evading Dugger’s arrest by providing transportation, housing and cellular telephone communications,” Fraley said.
On Friday morning, Deloach appeared in Carter County General Sessions Court where he was arraigned. Judge Keith Bowers Jr. appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent Deloach.
Bond for Deloach had originally been set at $50,000, but in court on Friday Bowers set a reduced bond at $25,000. Deloach is scheduled to return to General Sessions Court on Monday.