A Knox County Sheriff’s Office patrol officer arrested a man wanted for stealing around $800 worth of gas in a series of drive-offs and for leading deputies on a pursuit on Thursday.  Forty-five year old Mark Bivens of Loudon is being held in the Knox County Jail without bond on a violation of probation.  Charges from Thursday’s incident which left a deputy injured when a car pulled into the path of his motorcycle are pending.

Bivens was spotted by Officer Jack Yearwood at a pay phone at a gas station on Straw Plains Pike after 12:30 a.m. Friday.  He made a run for his van and tried to get away, but Yearwood boxed him in with his car and arrested him at gunpoint.  The van was stolen from Jim Cogdill Dodge.  Bivens has a lengthy criminal history including theft, assault, and various drug charges.