COVINGTON, Tenn. (WMC) – The Covington Police Department has arrested someone they call a “NASCAR wanna-be” who is accused of reckless driving and leading officers in a chase along Highway 51.
Police say 21-year-old Jason Beard is known for evading law enforcement agencies in his red Ford Mustang.
CPD has charged him with felony evading arrest, driving while license suspended, disregarding a stop light, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, simple possession of a schedule VI substance, and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
Beard is being held at the Tipton County Jail on a $10,000 bond and is due in court on Friday.
Police say Beard was free on bond from a prior reckless driving arrest out of Haywood County when he was caught reoffending just before midnight Saturday.
Covington police reportedly witnessed Beard driving his Mustang erratically on Highway 51 and attempting to drag race another vehicle.
Police say Beard refused to pull over and turned off all lights during the subsequent pursuit into Lauderdale County, successfully evading officers as he disappeared into the night.
An off-duty deputy with the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office who was traveling on Highway 51 during this time reported that he was almost hit by the car as Beard sped past him.
Police say Beard eventually crashed in the area of Highway 51 and Asbury Lane in Ripley, Tennessee, and hid in the woods nearby.
Covington police deployed K9 Officer “Arko,” who found the 21-year-old driver in the tree line.
Beard was then brought into custody without further incident.
Inside the Mustang, officers reportedly found an American Tactical AR pistol, a Tactical PX9 handgun, four loaded magazines, and 5.7 grams of marijuana.
CPD says Beard’s Tennessee driver’s license was also suspended at the time of his arrest.
Beard’s car was seized and towed to the Covington Police Department’s seizure lot.
Click here to sign up for our newsletter!
Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please include the headline.
Copyright 2024 WMC. All rights reserved.
