(KNOXVILLE) A Knoxville man who made national headlines for fathering 20-some children he couldn't support by multiple moms faces assault and stalking charges, according to the Knoxville Police Department.
Desmond Lanier Hatchett, a 36-year-old convicted criminal with a lengthy arrest record, assaulted a woman who was pregnant with his child Jan. 4 near Bethel Avenue and Surrey Street, according to records. He rammed a vehicle she was in with his Dodge Avenger, according to the charge.
On March 9, Knoxville police were dispatched to a North Knoxville address to check on a woman. She told them she'd been sexually assaulted by Hatchett.
Officers knew of Hatchett and began looking for him. An officer in an unmarked car went to River View Park Apartments in East Knoxville, according to a news release by KPD Sgt. Jason Keck.
Hatchett showed up driving a Nissan Altima, records show. The officer called for marked cruisers for support.
When they arrived, Hatchett was in the Nissan.
"When he saw the marked unit approaching him, he stopped his car, backed up and quickly drove to the corner of the parking lot," according to Keck's release.
Hatchett got out of the car and ran on foot but was caught soon in a park near Holston Hills Road.
Hatchett, who finished a state prison sentence in February 2014, was being held Tuesday in the Knox County jail system. In addition to his current charges, more "serious charges" are pending, according to KPD.
The Knoxville man's criminal record dates to the late 1990s when he was a teen. He's been arrested for multiple warrants alleging aggravated assault, domestic assault, reckless endangerment, evading arrest and various traffic charges.
Many of the assault charges were dismissed because the victim chose not to prosecute, records show.
He's fathered at least 20 children by more than 10 women. His prolific parenting has been covered by TMZ, The Smoking Gun and The Los Angeles Times, among others. Area news outlets also have documented his story.
