(Smith County Insider Press) Hickman, Tenn. – On Tuesday, January 10, just after 10:40 p.m., Deputy Nick Campbell of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle with a broken tail light and that had license plates that did not match vehicle, near the Exxon in South Carthage.
When Campbell initiated his blue lights, the vehicle slowed down and a female jumped out of the passenger door, and then the vehicle sped off.
Campbell initiated a pursuit on Gordonsville Highway headed South. Officer Frank Geisenhoffer of the South Carthage Police Department was parked at Crump Paris Park when the pursuit began and entered the pursuit to assist Campbell. Campbell clocked the vehicle at upwards of 115 mph.
Sgt. Jimmy Gregory of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, and Officers Jason Kemp and BJ Jackson of the Gordonsville Police Department responded to the call and staged at Timberloft Restaurant to attempt to initiate spike strips. Sgt. Jimmy Gregory was able to successfully initiate the spike strips, and the vehicle’s tires began to deflate.
The pursuit proceeded onto Hickman Highway as the vehicle began to lose control due to flat tires. The pursuit ended after officers attempted to box the vehicle in, when it swerved left and came to a final rest in the ditch. The wreck occurred around the 100 block of Hickman Highway. Officers quickly apprehended the subject and placed him under arrest.
After the vehicle came to a rest in the ditch, it caused grass around the car to catch on fire. The Sykes Fire Department was dispatched to the scene, but the fire was extinguished before they arrived.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Benjamin Charles Lee. The identity of the woman who jumped out of the vehicle is unknown at this time. Lee was recently indicted by the Smith County Grand Jury for one count of aggravated burglary and one count of theft of property – $1,000-$10,000 in December 2016.
Lee was transported by Smith County EMS to Riverview Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. Lee was later transported to Smith County Jail Facility for booking with numerous charges.
Trooper Jason Cobble of the Tennessee Highway Patrol also responded to the scene to work the crash.
We will provide updates as they become available to us.
Benjamin Charles Lee (Mugshot from previous arrest on 12/19/16)
