(1) ROBBERY FUGITIVES RUN OUT OF GAS

 

A quintet of fugitives from Gallatin were arrested in eastern Macon County Wednesday morning.

The high speed pursuit of five suspects in a Tuesday night home invasion and aggravated robbery incident which began in Sumner County ended near Red Boiling Springs about 10 a.m. A knife allegedly used in the robbery was recovered from one of the male subjects. 

At least five law enforcement agencies participated in running to ground a gray Pontiac Grand Am driven by Amethyst Jordan, BF age 21, Hendersonville. The woman was also charged with Felony Evading and Aggravated Assault with a Motor Vehicle, after striking at least one other vehicle as she sped across Macon County at speeds of over 110 mph.

The Pontiac Grand Am driver and her four passengers passed other vehicles, including semi-trucks, on the shoulder of the road, running red lights and four-way stops before the vehicle apparently ran out of gas about a mile east of the Hillwood Shopping Center on Hwy. 52-east.

The saga began at a duplex apartment at 675 North Water Street in Gallatin on Tuesday night, November 23 at 11:45 pm.

According to Gallatin Police, Lazaro Lopez answered a knock on his door to find two white females who asked him "if he wanted any business?"

Before he could answer, one white male, and one black male, both wearing hoods and standing behind the two females, pushed their way into Lopez's residence where the white male allegedly punched Lopez in the face and put a knife to his stomach demanding money.

Lazaro Lopez retrieved $210 from his wallet and gave it to them, and the four home invaders left the scene.

Gallatin Police Public Information Officer Bill Storment said drugs and alcohol were thought to be the motive for the aggravated robbery, and after questioning residents of a second apartment at the same address, police identified five suspects as being involved in the incident, including a description of the dark silver or gray late model Pontiac Grand Am in which they drove away from the North Water location.

That vehicle and its five occupants were identified Wednesday morning by a Sumner County Sheriff's deputy who followed the vehicle through Westmoreland into Macon County, where local law enforcement agencies joined the pursuit.

The high speed chase ended when the fleeing vehicle apparently ran out of gas on Hwy 52 a mile east of Red Boiling Springs. Taken into custody without incident were the driver, Amethyst Jordan of Hendersonville; Antonio Cartwright, BM age 29; Jeremy Whitson, WM age 27; Tanya Lackey, WF age 24; and Miranda Caldwell, WF age 19, all of Gallatin. All five were charged with Aggravated Robbery.

Gallatin Police said the driver, Amethyst Jordan, was wanted for violation of probation in Hendersonville; Antino Cartwright had been recently released from jail where he served time on a robbery charge. According to police, both Jeremy Whitson and Miranda Caldwell were convicted sex offenders.

Bond was set at $40,000 for each suspect, with an appearance in Sumner County Sessions Court set for Wednesday, December 19, 2007.

A Gallatin Police spokesman commended the Sumner County Sheriff's Office, Westmoreland Police, Macon County Sheriff's Department, Lafayette Police and Red Boiling Springs Police "for their outstanding performance in this high speed pursuit that resulted in the apprehension of these dangerous criminals, without incident."

 

(2) HUDDLESTON HILL FIRE

By: Lisa Spivey

The Lafayette Fire Department was dispatched to Huddleston Hill on Thursday, November 29, where a section of hillside belonging to Jack Osgathorpe caught on fire with unknown cause. This section of roadway is prone to being littered. Much building material and general litter was part of rubble that had been tossed down the remote hillside. Some papers were found that contained information to possibly identify persons that have tossed their litter and debris.

The fire department, volunteers, and the Forestry Division worked with water and rakes to put out fire and to create a firebreak, to reduce ability to spread. Landowner Jack Osgathorpe feels that the fee for taking material and trash to the landfill promotes dumping in remote locations. Jack worked to get the fire contained until arrival of units.