Woman Arrested after Brandishing Weapon Outside Sevier County High School

A Georgia woman is facing two felony charges after allegedly brandishing a weapon, which turned out to be a pellet gun, outside a Sevier County school Wednesday morning.

According to the Sevierville Police Department, at about 9:27 a.m. on October 17, 2018, school staff notified the department’s school resource officer Shain Burgess that a suspicious person was screaming and acting incoherently in a black SUV parked at the main parking lot exit of Sevier County High School.

“Officer Burgess responded and encountered a woman standing next to the vehicle brandishing what appeared to be a small black semi-automatic handgun,” said police spokesman Bob Stahlke.

Burgess ordered the woman to drop the weapon. She complied, got in a black SUV with Georgia plates and fled west on Dolly Parton Parkway.

At approximately 9:50 a.m., SPD Officer Anna Jordan stopped a black Ford Escape SUV with a Georgia license plate near 1259 Middle Creek Road. The driver of the vehicle, identified as 34-year old Brittany Ruth Rowe of Ellijay, Ga., was arrested without incident.

“The recovered weapon is a black pellet gun that appears to be an authentic small caliber handgun,” Stahlke said.

Police transported Rowe to the Sevier County Jail. She has been charged with felony criminal attempt (aggravated assault) and felony weapon on school property.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Photo: Weapon recovered by Sevierville Police Department