Mental tests ordered for defendant shot by police on The Murfreesboro Post

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Mental tests ordered for defendant shot by police

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Two juveniles charged with carjacking

Man escapes injury in University Gables shooting

By: Lisa Marchesoni

Posted: Monday, July 27, 2009 2:58 pm

Mental evaluations were requested Monday for a suspect shot by police after he allegedly carjacked several drivers and assaulted citizens and law enforcement officers in April 2008.

Defendant Joseph Bennett, 32, of Nashville was shot in the head by Murfreesboro Police Officer Jason McGee after the suspect allegedly carjacked a father and son and a mother and her baby April 5, 2008.

During a hearing Monday in Circuit Court, Assistant Public Defender John Driver asked for a mental evaluation for Bennett as an “abundance of caution” and to determine if the head injury caused diminished capacity.

“It would be appropriate for him to have an evaluation,” Driver said.

Assistant District Attorney Paul Newman said Bennett is currently serving a 21-year sentence on unrelated charges in Davidson County. He has numerous prior convictions, causing Newman to ask Bennett be considered a career criminal and serve the rest of his life in prison.

Newman agreed a mental evaluation would resolve any questions about the head injury and didn’t object to the testing.

Circuit Court Judge Don Ash agreed to the evaluation and set another status hearing in September.

Bennett escaped from Davidson County. Sheriff’s Cpl. Brandon Cisek spotted Bennett driving April 5, 2008 on East Main Street. Officers pursued Bennett to U.S. Highway 70 South (John Bragg Highway) where Bennett allegedly carjacked a father and son.

The suspect drove back to Murfreesboro where he was accused of carjacking a mother and her baby. Murfreesboro Police stopped him in front of Hardee’s on Middle Tennessee Boulevard where he was shot.

Detective Ava Radley, who investigated, obtained 20 grand jury indictments charging Bennett with 13 counts of aggravated assault of eight citizens and four Murfreesboro Police officers. He was also charged with two counts of carjacking, two counts of attempted carjacking, auto theft, evading arrest and unlawful possession of weapon.

He has remained in custody since being released from the hospital.

Tagged under Carjacking, Joseph Bennett

Member Opinions:

By: SocEtTuem on 7/27/09
It's pretty obvious this mope needs to be locked up on a permanent basis. Given his criminal history, it is astonishing he was back on the street at all.

By: Trvlace on 7/27/09
"He had escaped from Davidson County...." is the clue you missed socetuem. Ahh the powers of observation...lol.. jus pickin!