02/20/14 Nashville, TN – Police Officer Struggle With Suspect – Suspect Runs And Steals A Metro Police Cruiser – Suspect Escapes – Cruiser Found Abandoned

February 20, 2014

newschannel5.com

A man accused of stealing a Metro Police cruiser was taken into custody early Thursday morning.

Police charged 45-year-old Jerome Jenkins with assaulting a police officer, felon in possession of a handgun, theft of property, drug possession, vehicle theft, evading arrest, driving on a revoked license, and drug paraphernalia.

Police said an officer stopped Jenkins on Herman Street around 4 a.m. Thursday and asked him for identification. He took off running, and the officer followed. When the officer caught up to him, they got into a struggle. The officer saw Jenkins had a gun, and was able to get it away from him.

Jenkins allegedly took off running again, jumped into the officer’s patrol cruiser, and sped away.

A short time later, the cruiser was found abandoned at 12th Avenue North and Ireland Street.

Officers brought out K-9 units and found Jenkins hiding in the neighborhood. He was taken into custody without incident.

No one was hurt.

Jenkins, who is homeless, has previous convictions for armed robbery, robbery, cocaine with intent to sell, assault, burglary, auto burglary, drug possession, theft and resisting arrest.