| High-speed pursuit leads to arrest of UC man |
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Posted: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 9:00 pm
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By CHRIS MENEES
Staff Reporter
A Union City man faces multiple charges following a high-speed pursuit that began Tuesday afternoon in Obion County and ended in Dyer County.
Michael Wayne Walker, 36, of 216 South Third St., Union City, was arrested at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday on warrants charging him with evading arrest in a motor vehicle, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon (car), reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, theft under $500 and attempted theft under $500.
He was being held in the Obion County Law Enforcement Complex at press time today, with arraignment set for Thursday.
Tuesday’s incident involving Walker stemmed from alleged shoplifting and attempted shoplifting incidents over the weekend at Walmart Supercenter in Union City, according to a Union City Police Department report.
Police investigator Derrick O’Dell reported he launched an investigation shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday into the alleged theft of a Dell laptop by Walker on Sunday at the local Walmart store. He said Walker was seen entering the store shortly before 11 a.m., selecting a laptop with a security device and removing the security device in the clothing section. He allegedly left the store with a laptop, valued at $398, about four minutes after entering.
O’Dell said Walker had also entered the Walmart store about 7:15 p.m. Saturday and selected a Samsung 40-inch television protected by a security device. He allegedly took the television to the clothing department and removed the security device and then pushed the TV to the stationery aisle, where he apparently observed a loss prevention employee, left the TV behind and left the store.
Based on these two alleged incidents, warrants for theft under $500 and attempted theft under $500 were obtained by Union City police.
About 3:55 p.m. Tuesday, O’Dell and other officers were in search of Walker in order to serve the warrants. He was spotted driving in the 1800 block of Old Troy Road in Union City and O’Dell said he attempted to stop the vehicle.
O’Dell said when he activated his vehicle’s emergency equipment, Walker sped around a line of four cars and continued west on Old Troy Road — traveling at speeds in excess of 80 mph in a 45 mph zone — and passed another group of three cars in the Bel Aire Circle area.
The investigator reported Walker continued on Old Troy Road until he reached Phebus Road, where he turned east. He said Walker was nearly boxed in by a deputy from the Obion County Sheriff’s Department, but he made his way around the deputy’s vehicle and continued at a high rate of speed until reaching Highway 51. There, O’Dell said Walker increased his speed again to over 80 mph in a 55 mph zone.
The Union City police investigator canceled his pursuit in the area of the Troy city limits, and Walker allegedly continued southbound and refused to stop for sheriff’s department and Tennessee Highway Patrol units, according to the report. County and THP units continued their pursuit.
During the pursuit, an occupant of the vehicle called authorities and indicated Walker was the driver.
There were also two other occupants inside the vehicle at the time of the pursuit, O’Dell reported.
The vehicle was finally stopped in Dyer County by Obion County sheriff’s deputies, and a check of Walker’s license showed it to be suspended for failure to provide evidence of insurance, according to the report.
Additional warrants were issued for charges stemming from Tuesday’s pursuit — evading arrest in a motor vehicle, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon (car), reckless driving and driving on a suspended license.
O’Dell reported the warrants were faxed to the Obion County Law Enforcement Complex since Walker was transported to the hospital in Dyersburg to be checked for chest pain before being taken to the jail.
Staff Reporter Chris Menees may be contacted by email at cmenees@ucmessenger.com.
Published in The Messenger 2.13.13 |
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