An armed man who claimed to be “the Black Jesus” led officers on a long pursuit in two counties after allegedly scaring personnel at two Shelbyville auto dealerships Saturday.
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
An armed man who claimed to be “the Black Jesus” led officers on a long pursuit in two counties after allegedly scaring personnel at two Shelbyville auto dealerships Saturday morning.
Michael DeAngelo Smith of Huntsville, Alabama told personnel at Newton GM, North Main Street, that God wanted him to have a black Chevrolet Camaro in the showroom, Shelbyville police were told. Smith said he was able to start the vehicle without keys and that he’d “let you live today.”
As police were on the way, Smith allegedly went across the street to Shelbyville Auto Sales where he was told to leave.
Personnel at both locations told officers they saw a pistol in Smith’s pocket. Smith had a loaded .38 caliber pistol when eventually stopped, police said.
Smith sped north from Shelbyville Auto Sales and, after crossing the county line, refused to stop for the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Murfreesboro Police Department and Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, ultimately heading back into Bedford County where more attempts were made to stop him.
Officers in Murfreesboro said Smith claimed at dealerships there that “someone is going to meet Jesus today.”
All the dealership personnel said Smith appeared to be on drugs. Smith was pursued by Officers Michael Taylor, on a motorcycle, and Officer Ramon Castillo in a patrol car through Shelbyville, reaching speeds of 65-70 mph and running traffic lights, until the pursuit was called off due to reaching residential areas. Moore County deputies later stopped and arrested Smith. Smith has been charged in Bedford County with reckless endangerment, evading arrest, registration violation and driving on a suspended license. Additional charges have been filed in Rutherford and Moore counties.
Theft alleged
A woman has been accused of stealing documents from a bank deposit bag belonging to Wedge Market, Belmont Avenue.
Brandy Ann Raymer, 37, of Belmont Avenue allegedly picked up the bag after it fell from under the arm of an employee who was leaving the store Friday.
Video allegedly shows Raymer leaving with the bag, police said. Raymer allegedly returned the bank bag, but the store manager said a check and more than $2,500 were missing.
She was charged with theft over $2,500 and is being held on $2,500 bond at Bedford County Jail.
‘Sorry - I’m drunk’
“I’m sorry. I’m drunk,” a driver allegedly told an officer who pursued him after he allegedly spun out while leaving a North Cannon Boulevard parking lot early Sunday.
Juan David Guevara, 18, of Warners Bridge Road was charged with second offense DUI, reckless driving, evading arrest, driving on a revoked license and several related charges.
He posted $12,500 bond.
Guevara allegedly tried to elude Officer Dylan Bliss at speeds of up to 50 mph before stopping at the intersection of Morton and Rock Streets. He told Bliss he’d been told in the past to intentionally not follow instructions during field sobriety tests since he’d be arrested for DUI anyway.
Guevara was released on $12,500 bond.
Thefts
A wave of tool thefts continues as approximately $1,450 worth were stolen from a locked trailer on Eaton Drive, police were told Saturday.
Three suspects, who had been fired by the tools’ owner, were named.
Drug charge
Approximately 2 grams of marijuana, along with drug paraphernalia, were confiscated during a traffic stop Saturday, police said.
Monica Joremko was stopped for an inoperative brake light. She was charged with simple possession of a schedule VI drug and paraphernalia and a vehicle light law violation and given a citation.
Jail intake
The following were charged since Friday by the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, Shelbyville Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol or 17th Judicial District Drug Task Fore. They are only charged; guilt or innocence will be determined by the courts.
