MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Two people are set to face a judge Monday morning for allegedly riding in a stolen car, with one of the suspects almost running a Memphis Police (MPD) officer over with it.
Bethany Herron is charged with theft of property, evading arrest and assault on a first responder, records show.
What makes this story even more wild is where officers arrested the two.
Woken up out of his sleep, former Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said he didn’t have any other choice but to see what was going on outside of his home.
“We were woken up about 3 in the morning because we heard, ‘Get your hands on the ground!’” Strickland said.
Strickland heard the sound of Memphis Police officers arresting Herron.
According to an affidavit, officers spotted just before 3:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, a stolen black Honda Civic at Poplar and Highland.
MPD said that when officers tried to pull the car over, it sped off.
Officers later cornered the car in the 200 block of Ridgefield Road, records show.
The chase came to a stop in the front yard of Strickland’s home, feet away from his front door, records show.
“They got very close to hitting that police officer,” Strickland said. “So, you know, it’s a very unusual circumstance for our neighborhood, our street. Unfortunately, it’s almost an everyday occurrence for police officers.”
The tracks made by the stolen car can still be seen in his yard.
“And within a few minutes,” Strickland said, “we saw them locate another suspect underneath a vehicle that was parked on street.”
Officers also arrested Marcus Walker, who jumped out of the car when it stopped.
Strickland said that he saw issue of car thefts becoming a problem two years ago.
“MPD, over recent 18 month period have arrested almost 1,200 people for car theft and breaking,” Strickland said.
Strickland said that the police did their job catching the criminals. Now, something needs to be done to hold them accountable, he added.
Officers arrested a third person who they have not charged, records show.
Walker is charged with evading arrest.
Both Herron and Walker will be in court Monday, records show.
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