Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Dustin D. Dienst
Age : 24
Gender : Male
Race : White
Date : 01/30/2022
Location : Norris Freeway / Highway 441 near Mountain Road
City : Dandridge
County : Anderson
State : Tennessee
Agency : Tennessee Highway Patrol
Officer(s) :Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Passenger killed by police chase crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
REASON FOR CHASE: Passenger killed during a Tennessee Highway Patrol pursuit. Publicly available accounts confirm that Trooper Austin Dean pursued the vehicle in which Dienst was riding but do not disclose why Dean initially attempted to stop the vehicle.
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NARRATIVE:
On 01/30/2022, Dustin Dienst of Morristown was critically injured while riding as a passenger in a vehicle driven by 22-year-old Elijah Charles “Eli” Morley during a Tennessee Highway Patrol pursuit in Anderson County. Morley was killed in the crash. Dienst remained hospitalized until he died from his injuries on 02/08/2022.
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At approximately 2 p.m., Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Austin Dean pursued the vehicle occupied by Morley and Dienst. Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark reported that the pursuit traveled over multiple roadways.
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The pursuit ended near the intersection of Mountain Road and Highway 441/Norris Freeway in unincorporated Anderson County. Both Morley’s vehicle and Dean’s THP cruiser left the roadway and crashed.
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Morley died from his injuries. Dienst was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. Dean was also injured and was treated at a hospital before being released.
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Dienst remained hospitalized for more than a week after the pursuit. On 02/08/2022, he died from the injuries sustained in the January 30 crash, making him the second person killed as a result of the pursuit.
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The Tennessee Highway Patrol Critical Incident Response Team conducted a crash reconstruction. The Tennessee Highway Patrol and Anderson County District Attorney General’s Office investigated the pursuit and crash, with the DA stating that completion of the investigation depended on the toxicology results, final autopsy report and accident-reconstruction findings.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Austin Dean was publicly identified as the trooper who pursued the vehicle occupied by Morley and Dienst and whose patrol vehicle also crashed at the end of the pursuit
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.wvlt.tv/2022/02/09/second-suspect-dies-following-anderson-co-police-chase/
