Violent Crimes Division detectives last night arrested Kenneth Strickland, 31, for the second time in 10 days after he fled in a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee from an attempted traffic stop on Briley Parkway and Gallatin Pike. Strickland, who was out on $40,500 bond from his March 4 arrest for arriving to the scene of Myles Owens' suicide in a stolen Infiniti, was observed by MNPD and THP Aviation traveling at more than 100 miles per hour as he evaded officers.
The Jeep, which was reported stolen from Music City Power and Performance on January 23, was disabled by detectives and abandoned off 17th Avenue South. Strickland and his two passengers were quickly apprehended after a brief foot chase.
Strickland was charged with vehicle theft as well as felony and misdemeanor evading arrest. He remains in custody this morning on $76,000 bond.
During the arrests, a citizen reported seeing a passenger of the Jeep toss a firearm from the window. Detectives located an Arsenal Mini Draco pistol in the flight path of the Jeep.
Jeffery Beltran was identified as the rear passenger that tossed the loaded firearm. Beltran, 28, is a convicted felon out of Duval County, Florida. He was charged with vehicle theft, being a felon in possession of a weapon, evading arrest and evidence tampering. He is currently jailed on $96,000 bond.
Strickland's second passenger, Gabriel Murillo, 28, was charged with vehicle theft and evading arrest. He is being held in lieu of $33,000 bond.