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Monday, June 22, 2009

Suspect Leads Officers On Foot Chase To Lawrenceburg Square

   A man law enforcement officers were attempting to place under arrest on drug charges during a traffic stop Saturday night lead them on a foot chase to the Lawrenceburg Public Square before he was subdued and handcuffed.

   Deputies with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department report they initiated the traffic stop around 7:20 p.m. at the Mahr Avenue/West Gaines Street intersection, when they noticed that passengers inside the vehicle were not wearing safety belts. Both of the vehicle occupants told deputies they had no identification. While deputies were conducting a routine pat down to check for weapons, they report finding a “crack pipe” and a baggy that contained a substance believed to be crack cocaine in the right watch pocket of one of the men.

   When the deputy advised the man that he was placing him under arrest, he reports that the man shoved him away and ran toward the public square. As deputies and troopers with the Tennessee Highway Patrol pursued, they report the suspect continued to flee, throwing items from his pockets as he did so.

   Officers were able to catch up to the suspect in a parking area at the rear of the square. The arresting officer reports that as the man turned, “he did reach in his pocket and square toward me in an aggressive stance and state to me that he was not going to jail.”

   The deputy instructed the man to take his hands out of his pockets and place them on them on the back of his head, however he reports the man refused to comply. The officer indicates he was forced to spray the man with an immobilizing spray, but that the spray had little effect.

   When the man attempted to flee once more, deputies report that a scuffle ensued and “I was finally able to take (the suspect) into custody.” He indicates that the man continued to resist.

   When the man began to complain of shortness of breath he was transported to Crockett Hospital for medical attention. He was treated there, then released back into the custody of law enforcement officers.

   Officers with the sheriff’s department, THP and Lawrenceburg Police Department conducted a search of the area and were able to recover some of the items the suspect had attempted to dispose of, including the crack pipe.

   As a result of the incident the suspect, fifty-one-year-old Ricky Nelson Johnson of 621 High Avenue, was transported to the Lawrence County Jail where he was booked on charges that include possession of Schedule IV crack cocaine, possession of drug ;paraphernalia, evading arrest and resisting arrest. He is scheduled to answer the charges through Lawrence County General Sessions Court on July 6, 2009.

 

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