Huntingdon, Tenn.–A Huntingdon Police Officer was injured when a suspect rammed his patrol car during a pursuit this afternoon. The suspect then charged head-on toward another patrol car, crashing into it.
The wild pursuit, which involved the suspect speeding across roadways, finally ended in a field outside of the city limits when the suspect’s car broke down.
Arrested was Nathaniel B. Cawthon of Nashville, who had outstanding warrants against him in both Weakley and Carroll County. Among the charges filed against him by the Huntingdon Police Department today are two counts of aggravated assault, felony evading arrest, reckless endangerment and multiple violations of traffic control devises. He was taken to the Carroll County Jail.
Officer Labe Ezell was taken by ambulance to Baptist Memorial in Huntingdon where he was treated and released.
Director of Public Safety Walter Smothers said the incident began at approximately 12:26 p.m. today.
Huntingdon Investigator Joey Hedge was northbound on the Veterans Drive Bypass when he observed a vehicle enter the traffic from a private parking lot. Hedge said the vehicle was spinning and fishtailing as it began northbound on Veterans Drive.
Huntingdon Public Safety dispatch also received a call from a concerned citizen reporting the same. Smothers said the vehicle turned right as it approached the turn toward Hwy 22 north of town, and continued to weave back and forth across the highway.
As Investigator Hedge gave pursuit the offender crossed over Highway 22 without slowing down for the four way stop. As the offender came up on the High Street intersection approximately two miles later, Officers Labe Ezell and Michael Verner were waiting on High Street.
The suspect suddenly turned right onto High Street and rammed the patrol car of Officer Ezell in the drivers side causing both side airbags to deploy as well as disabling the patrol car with damage to the rear drive axle. The offender continued approximately one half mile and turned into a private parking lot.
As Officer Verner turned into the parking lot the offender charged at him head on with his vehicle, and at the last second turned sharply right, causing the drivers side of his vehicle to crash into the front of Officer Verner’s patrol car.
The suspect then went back onto High Street and proceeded back to the by-pass with Hedge in pursuit. The offender turned right onto the by-pass and eventually crossed over Northwood Drive without stopping, still weaving from side to side on the roadway. As he approached the Buena Vista intersection he slowed and turned left and heading east on Buena Vista Road.
He eventually turned left onto Maytown Road shortly after leaving the Huntingdon City Limits. He continued to attempt to evade the officers as he drove eastward, crossing over Highway 114. The pursuit was joined by Sgt. Mike Taylor of the Carroll County Sheriffs Department, and the fleeing suspect turned into a field just before the intersection of Roland Mill Road where the suspects vehicle quit. Officers took into custody the driver (who was the only occupant) of the vehicle and he was identified as Nathaniel B. Cawthon, driving a 2011 Dodge Charger. He remains in the Carroll County Jail.
Walter Smothers photo.