Recently Indicted Middlesboro Man Apprehended After Striking a Pedestrian and Later Running From Police

From WRIL The Big One -

Timothy Hunter Cole - BCDC

On Saturday night November 1, 2025, Middlesboro Police Officer Jake Quillen was responding to a call when he saw 26-year-old Timothy Hunter Cole driving a white 1999 Chevy Blazer pulling out from south 40^th Street onto Cumberland Avenue.  The officer states in the citation that Cole almost struck his cruiser in the process.

A traffic stop was conducted on west Cumberland Avenue with Cole exiting the Blazer with his hands up.  The officer knew Cole to be recently indicted on felony charges. During the stop, Cole fled from Quillen into the roadway which began a short foot pursuit that ended in the median.  The officer stated this “created a substantial risk of serious physical injury as it was dark and raining” and oncoming traffic could have struck him.

After being taken into custody it was determined Cole had no license plate on the Blazer, expired registration, no insurance, and no driver’s license.

He was initially charged with rear license plate not illuminated, no registration plates, not wearing a seat belt, no operators license, fleeing or evading police – 1^st degree (on foot), resisting arrest, failure to produce insurance card, not maintaining insurance, and reckless driving.

He was also served indictment warrants for charges in 2019 that he was arrested for in March of this year.  The indictment charges included possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, menacing, fleeing or evading police – 1^st degree (on foot), harboring a vicious animal, wanton endangerment – 1^st degree, and terroristic threatening – 3^rd degree.

The US Marshal Service, along with multiple law enforcement agencies, took Cole into custody in March of 2025 on Robinson Lane.  He had been on parole since October of 2024 for charges incurred in December of 2019. At the time, Middlesboro Police responded to a report of a shooting at Cumberland Village Apartments involving Cole and 22-year-old Katelynn Boatright. Video footage from the incident showed that the pair had handguns and were shooting at each other multiple times, but no one was injured.

During processing at the Middlesboro Police Department Saturday night, Cole was given permission to use his phone to supposedly call his girlfriend but it was determined he reset the phone.  He stated he thought police were going to take it and find “more stuff” on it.  That phone is now being sent to the KSP forensic lab with a search warrant. An additional charge of tampering with physical evidence has been added to Timothy Hunter Cole’s offenses.

It has been determined via surveillance video that shortly before the incident with Officer Quillen on 40th Street and Cumberland Avenue, Timothy Cole struck a pedestrian in the vicinty of 38th Street and Winchester Avenue. Cole fled the scene after hitting the man. The individual suffered injuries which caused him to be flown to UT Hospital for treatment. According to family members he has been released and is back home.

As of 8:10pm Sunday night November 2nd - Timothy Cole has also been charged with assault - 1st degree and leaving the scene of a accident - failure to render aid.

He is lodged in the Bell County Detention Center.