A coordinated effort from Violent Crimes, Central Precinct, and East Precinct detectives with MNPD Aviation and Hermitage Precinct patrol, led to the overnight arrest of Gregory Bethea Jr., 32, of Memphis, after he and a 17-year-old male fled from officers.
Detectives observed a stolen Ford Fusion near Summer Place Thursday night that was involved in a crime spree last week in Midtown. The driver of the Fusion, the 17-year-old Nashvillian, parked and later got into the passenger seat of a white Ford transit van. When officers initiated a traffic stop, the van fled.
Aviation followed the van on I-65 where it reached more than 100 miles per hour.
Both occupants were seen throwing items from the windows until the van parked in the Burning Tree apartments parking lot. Bethea, the driver, and the teenage passenger fled on foot, but were quickly apprehended.
Bethea initially gave officers a fake name, but his suspended Tennessee driver’s license provided his correct legal name. He was charged with two counts of evading arrest, criminal impersonation, evidence tampering, driving without a valid license, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
He is currently being held on $39,500 bond.
The 17-year-old was charged in juvenile court.
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Gregory Bethea Jr., 32