07/31/2023
UPDATE: SUSPECT HAS BEEN CAPTURED
Fugitive Wayne Wickenkamp has been located and was taken into custody.
This afternoon, shortly after the press release was issued, CCSO Lt. David Munsey was on patrol and spotted Wickenkamp walking along a road in the Hampton area near where he was last seen and took him into custody without incident. Wickenkamp is being charged with felony evading arrest and additional local charges are pending at this time.
ORIGINAL POST:
CCSO searching for man wanted out of Iowa on child sexual abuse charges
ELIZABETHTON – A manhunt continues for a fugitive wanted out of Iowa on multiple child sexual abuse charges after deputies spotted the suspect in Carter County on Sunday evening.
Over the weekend, the Carter County Sheriff’s Office received a notice that a man wanted out of the state of Iowa on child sexual abuse charges who was reportedly in the area driving a gold mini-van. On Sunday around 7 p.m. deputies of the CCSO encountered the vehicle and identified the driver as the suspect sought by Iowa authorities, 36-year-old Wayne Wickenkamp. The vehicle was traveling on Highway 321 around Watauga Lake and the driver fled from deputies, initiating a police pursuit that ended on Nanny Smith Road in Hampton. After turning onto Nanny Smith Road, Wickenkamp exited the vehicle with a firearm and fled on foot across a creek and into the woods.
Deputies then launched a search of the area. Multiple officers arrived on scene along with the CCSO SWAT Team. Officers with the Tennessee Department of Corrections also responded with two K9 tracking dogs to aid in the search along with some Carter County constables. Around 1 a.m. on Monday, the search broke off for the night without having located Wickenkamp. Search operations resumed later Monday morning. Deputies towed the vehicle driven by Wickenkamp from the scene to a secure location for processing by investigators.
According to Iowa authorities, Wickenkamp was scheduled to stand trial on multiple charges of child sexual abuse and he failed to appear for trial.
Wickenkamp is described as a white male, approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a stocky build and dark hair.
“Mr. Wickenkamp is considered armed and dangerous,” Sheriff Mike Fraley said. “If you see anyone matching his description, please do not approach him but call 911 immediately.”
