An 18-year-old Memphis man is facing a stack of charges after Tennessee troopers say he tore through the Frayser neighborhood in a stolen car at close to 100 mph on Thursday. The chase ended at the Marathon gas station at Range Line Street and James Road, where troopers used a tire-deflation device to bring the car to a halt. Inside, officers found two other male passengers and a female, and said a 15-year-old passenger was carrying an illegal firearm.
According to WREG, the driver was identified as 18-year-old Christopher Foster. Troopers told the outlet they deployed a stop device that blew out the front-right tire, forcing the vehicle to slow and stop, and that Foster surrendered at the scene without further incident. The car had been reported stolen on June 20, troopers said.
How troopers stopped the chase
Troopers used a tire-deflation tool, often referred to as a stop stick, to shut down the pursuit without ramming the vehicle or using a PIT maneuver. The device is designed to gradually deflate a car’s tires and lower the risk of a sudden high-speed blowout, according to Stop Stick.
Charges and court date
Per WREG, Foster is charged with driving without a valid license, theft of property valued between $10,000 and $60,000, intent to evade arrest in a motor vehicle in a way that allegedly risks death or serious injury, and reckless driving. Bond had not yet been set, and court records showed he was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday morning.
Where this fits locally
The case lands in the middle of a tense summer on Memphis roads, with several recent stolen-vehicle chases involving teens and young adults. That includes a June 5 carjacking and high-speed pursuit that ended in Southaven, Mississippi, as reported by Action News 5. The string of incidents has added fuel to growing community concern over juvenile involvement in violent car thefts and dangerous police pursuits.
Troopers say their investigation into the Frayser chase is ongoing, and additional charges could be filed as they go through evidence from the vehicle and the scene. Officials have not released more information about any injuries or the status of the juvenile passenger’s case.
