La Vergne suspect accused in two-county crime spree on The Murfreesboro Post

Sidebar Ads

La Vergne suspect accused in two-county crime spree

Related Articles

By: Lisa Marchesoni

Posted: Friday, November 6, 2009 2:38 pm

Jaquan Jerome Berry

Multiple charges are pending against a Rutherford County man accused of threatening a La Vergne family at knifepoint, attempting to car jack a Murfreesboro Police dispatcher and trying to elude police in Nashville, authorities said.

Suspect Jaquan Jerome Berry, 18, of La Vergne, was apprehended Thursday morning after he allegedly snatched a woman’s purse at a Nashville Wal-Mart and led police on a pursuit, said Metro Nashville Police spokeswoman Kris Munford.

Berry was accused of threatening the family and stealing two cars in La Vergne, attempting to carjack and the dispatcher’s vehicle and robbing a woman’s purse in Nashville before 9 a.m. Thursday.

La Vergne Police Investigator Earl Wilson said La Vergne Cpl. Jeri Lynn Champion will charge Berry with aggravated burglary and three counts of aggravated assault of the La Vergne family, four counts of theft and felony evading arrest.

Berry entered a family’s home about 3 a.m. on David’s Way where he was accused of pulling a knife on a family and demanding money. Berry made specific demands for the keys to a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu parked in the driveway.

The mother and Berry argued over the car keys while the daughter called 911.

“He gets the keys to the car,” Wilson said.

La Vergne Police get into a short pursuit with Berry before he crashed the car and disappeared into the woods. About 4:50 a.m., a resident was warming up a car with the keys in the ignition.

“The suspect stole the second car,” Wilson said.

Berry drove to the Wal-Mart on Old Fort Parkway in Murfreesboro.

Murfreesboro Police Officer Chrystal Price reported dispatcher April McClurkan was walking to her car about 6:40 a.m. from Wal-Mart when the suspect walked toward her.

“She fumbled for the lock as he yanked the passenger side door open and sat down,” Price reported, adding the suspect ordered McClurkan to drive but she refused. “He then requested money and again she refused.”

McClurkan accused Berry of grabbing her keys they fought over and broke the key ring. When she told Berry where she worked, he exited her car, snatched her bag she snatched back and fled.

Police reviewed videotape and saw he left in a small vehicle.

Munford said Berry drove off about 9 a.m. from the Wal-Mart on Hamilton Church Road in Nashville in a green Ford Contour reported stolen in La Vergne.

“The Wal-Mart employees followed him until South Precinct officers intercepted him,” Munford said. “He bailed out at 6116 Blue Hole Court, which is a dead end, off Blue Hole Road. He ran before he was caught.”

A Nashville Police press release stated South Precinct Officers Donald Richer and Andrew Davis chased him before taking him into custody.
“During interviews, Berry admitted to the robbery and to stealing the car,” the press release stated. “The victim’s purse was recovered and returned to her. She positively identified Berry as the robber.”
Nashville Police charged Berry with robbery of the purse, theft, evading arrest and driving on a revoked license. He is being held in lieu of $87,000 bond.
More charges are expected from Murfreesboro Police.

Tagged under April McClurkan, Jaquan Jerome Berry

Member Opinions:

By: rgould on 11/6/09
I'd be willing to bet that he is already on probation for something similar.

By: Macgyver on 11/6/09
Man how many cars can one person steal in a single day? This is like the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds".

By: enoughisenough on 11/7/09
It's a good thing this criminal didn't show up on my property. A different vehicle would have taken him away.