A heart-stopping chase through East Memphis led to the detention of a homicide suspect who had a baby in his arms, according to Action News 5. The Memphis Police Department confirmed that the pursuit began when officers tried to stop a vehicle related to a May 5 homicide investigation at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday.
The driver, who was not identified, reportedly did not comply with officers’ attempts to pull him over. After abandoning his car on the 1900 block of Ezell Street near Brittany Apartments, he was apprehended following a short foot chase, MPD detailed. The baby, caught up in this distressing situation, was fortunately unharmed and is safe now.
Local Memphis reported statements from an MPD spokesperson who indicated that the chase ensued when the vehicle did not stop for police, which led to the suspect fleeing on foot with the child in his arms. The investigation into this incident is ongoing.
During the pursuit, responding officers witnessed the suspect dispose of a weapon from the car, which has since been recovered stated Col. Frank Winston of the Memphis Police Department with regards to a weapon that was later retrieved by the officers, it was said in a report by FOX13 Memphis. The suspect's connection to the May 5 homicide, along with his name and the charges he faces, are still to be disclosed by authorities. Col. Winston assured in statements that the young child was checked and confirmed to be in good health following the incident.
The events surrounding the chase have raised concerns in the East Memphis community, as it involved not only a high-risk suspect but also an innocent child in a situation fraught with potential danger. Memphis Police have yet to clarify how the individual is linked to the previous homicide and what developments in the case led to this dramatic pursuit.
