Armed robbers got more than they bargained for after robbing a Dollar General store – they were quickly apprehended by the police and are now facing a slew of serious charges. Johnny Cross, 61, and Tedarreis Thompson, 33, were both arrested post a high-stakes chase, as reported by the Murfreesboro Police Department here.
The duo allegedly held up the Dollar General on Halls Hill Pike at gunpoint around 3:10 p.m. last Tuesday. Things went south when they tried to make a quick getaway. With ALPR technology and a quick-witted crime data analyst team, officers promptly tracked down the suspects' white Chevy Impala. The attempt to conduct a felony stop soon turned into a car chase, with the driver, now identified as Cross, deciding to quickly speed away, leading to a minor collision before hitting a dead end.
A foot pursuit ensued when Cross and Thompson abandoned the car, but their freedom was short-lived. According to the Murfreesboro government's official release, Cross was nabbed on Freedom Court, now charged with aggravated robbery, felony evading, misdemeanor evading, three counts of felony reckless endangerment, and leaving the scene of an accident. His accomplice, Thompson, did not manage to get far either, being apprehended on Winthorne Court. His rap sheet has now been extended with aggravated robbery, assault, interfering with an emergency 911 call, and vandalism, on top of an outstanding domestic assault warrant.
The men's botched escape ended with both detained and transported to the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. The bonds set reflect the gravity of their offences: Thompson's bond is at $82,000, while Cross will have to fork over a heftier $112,000 to consider freedom. Both are expected to appear in court next month – Thompson on June 11, and Cross will have to similarly face the music on June 18.
The investigation into the brazen mid-afternoon heist is ongoing, as the authorities work to piece together the full narrative of the crime. For now, both Thompson and Cross remain behind bars, likely mulling over the consequences of their alleged actions on that fateful Tuesday. The Murfreesboro community, on the other hand, can breathe a little easier knowing that swift police work has potentially put two dangerous criminals off the streets.
