On Saturday at approximately 9:10 p.m., Graves County sheriff’s deputies attempted to stop a car on U.S. Hwy. 45 North for a traffic violation. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop and accelerated at a high rate of speed, continuing south on U.S. 45. At the intersection of U.S. 45 North and the KY 121 bypass, the car ran a red light and collided with a car that was turning onto the by-pass. The suspect’s car went over the curb and collided with a fence and three parked vehicles on the lot of Bennett’s Auto Outlet.
After the car came to a stop, five male subjects fled on foot. Four of them were apprehended within a few minutes of the collision. The driver, who was pinned beneath the steering wheel, was also taken into custody. Deputies determined that the car had been reported stolen to the Paducah Police Department earlier that same day.
Four of those arrested, including the driver, were juveniles from Paducah. The driver, a 15-year-old male, was charged with two counts of assault, criminal mischief, receiving stolen property over $10,000, fleeing or evading in a motor vehicle, DUI 1st offense with an aggravated circumstance, possession of alcohol by a minor, no operator’s license and other traffic charges.
The other juveniles were charged with fleeing and evading on foot, receiving stolen property over $10,000, possession of alcohol by a minor, possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. All of the juveniles were lodged in the McCracken County Regional Juvenile Detention Facility.
One adult in the vehicle, 18-year-old Tavarious Moore of Paducah, was arrested by the Mayfield Police Department and lodged in the Graves County Jail. He’s charged with fleeing/evading police on foot, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, public intoxication, possession of alcohol by a minor and receiving stolen property over $10,000. According to deputies, one of the subjects that fled from the scene was carrying a firearm and no firearm was recovered from the ones already in custody. Police are still searching for the suspect that got away. Deputies believe he is a juvenile.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts or the firearm is asked to contact the Graves County Sheriff's Office.
The driver of the car that was hit, Willie Culpepper of Hickory and his juvenile son, were both transported to Jackson Purchase Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.
