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Overnight Knoxville Chase Ends In Violent Crash

KNOXVILLE (KDKA) - A man is facing charges after leading police on a chase that ended with a big crash.

It all started around 1:40 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of Ibis Way and Charles Street in Knoxville when police pulled over a silver Pontiac.

When officers approached the vehicle and announced they saw a gun, the driver took off.

"At one point, an officer involved in the traffic stop noticed a firearm in the backseat and he alerted the other officers by yelling, 'gun' and the driver sped off at that point," Pittsburgh Police Spokesperson Sonya Toler said.

Pittsburgh Police and an officer from Mt. Oliver chased after Watson until he crashed at the intersection of Ibis Way and Bausman Street 10 minutes later.

"He went about two blocks, then lost control in another intersection, hit a pole and the officers quickly handcuffed him and put him under arrest," Toler said.

Watson's car had heavy front end damage, damage to the driver's side door and the front driver's side wheel was completely bent in.

As for Watson himself, police said he was not injured in the crash. An ambulance was called to the scene as a precaution.

Watson has several previous gun convictions in his background. A gun an ammunition were recovered from the vehicle.

Watson was arrested and taken to the Allegheny County Jail. He was charged with fleeing and eluding, a possession and manufacturing charge and multiple traffic violations.

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