MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A driver in a Mercedes, accused of exceeding speeds over 100 miles per hour, was arrested after allegedly fleeing from a Tennessee trooper and bailing out of the vehicle in a Hickory Hill neighborhood.
Jevontae L. Griffin, 26, was taken into custody in the 6300 block of Amanda Oaks Circle early Thursday morning.
He was charged with evading arrest in an automobile and on foot, theft of property, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm during a dangerous felony, possession of marijuana, driving an unregistered vehicle, and improper display of registration.
Jevontae Griffin (SCSO)
According to an affidavit of complaint, at around 3:30 a.m., a trooper observed a silver Mercedes with an illegally tinted license plate cover traveling on Democrat Road and Tchulahoma Road in the airport area.
The trooper said he activated his emergency equipment, and the driver in the Mercedes accelerated and started running red lights.
The trooper said the vehicle reached a top speed of over 100 miles per hour before Griffin jumped out of the car and ran into the backyard of a home on Amanda Oaks Circle, a few miles away.
“He could have gone into the back of one of our homes,” said a neighbor who didn’t want to be identified.
The woman who lives a few doors away was getting up for work and saw all the blue lights and more than a dozen law enforcement vehicles drive past her house.
6300 block of Amanda Oaks Cir. in Hickory Hill
“My window just lit like it was daytime, she said. “I was scared.”
Officers say Griffin dropped a stolen gun in the backyard of the home where he was arrested.
The woman who owns the weapon said it was taken two years ago, and she didn’t know police had found it.
“100 miles, and he got stopped by a trooper, and he got caught with my gun? That’s crazy,” said the gun owner.
The victim, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the gun was taken while she was at a friend’s house by someone she didn’t know. She said she never thought she would see it again and was relieved no one was hurt by the weapon.
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“I think he deserves to be in jail. He stole from me,” she said.
Troopers said the weapon was loaded, and they also found 57.1 grams of marijuana.
It appeared several members of the Memphis Safe Task Force took part in the arrest. Neighbors said it looks like the task force is doing a good job.
“It’s like the streets are little quieter,” said a neighbhor.
Court records show Griffin pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of property in 2022. Right now, he is being held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
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