East Ridge Police Make Arrest After Vehicle Pursuit And Crash At Volkswagen Plant

  • Friday, January 30, 2015
Jason Lee Hughes
Jason Lee Hughes

A pursuit that began in East Ridge early Friday morning wound up at the Volkswagen plant with the driver running into an East Ridge patrol car and then crashing. The East Ridge officer was not injured.

East Ridge Police responded at 1:37 a.m. to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked in the complainant’s driveway on Connell Street. Police arrived and observed a black Ford Explorer parked at the rear of the residence.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Jason Hughes, 35, who was acquainted with the complainant. The complainant advised that she did not want to speak with Hughes. Both Hughes and police were preparing to leave the scene when the patrol officer noticed a discrepancy with the vehicle’s registration. As the patrol officer approached Hughes again to speak with him about the discrepancy, Hughes appeared to pretend to not hear the officer and drove away.

The officer followed in his patrol car and noticed Hughes cross the center line in an apparent attempt to avoid further contact with police. The officer attempted a traffic stop at that time, and Hughes began to evade police.

The pursuit continued from Altamaha Drive to Moore Road before following I-24 East and I-75 North. During the pursuit Hughes ran stop signs, a red light, crossed in to oncoming traffic lanes, and traveled at high rates of speed. The pursuit left the interstate at the Shallowford Road exit and continued through parts of Chattanooga, Collegedale, and unincorporated parts of Hamilton County before arriving at the campus of the Volkswagen.

On the Volkswagen campus Hughes ran off the roadway and lost control of the vehicle. He spun 180 degrees and came to a stop. He then accelerated into an East Ridge patrol car while the initiating officer was attempting to exit the patrol car to take Hughes into custody. The officer was not injured.

The pursuit began again but ended soon on the other end of the Volkswagen campus when Hughes lost control of the vehicle again and rolled it while attempting a turn. Hughes was ejected from the vehicle and then taken into custody. The Ford Explorer was confirmed as a stolen vehicle out of Ringgold.

Hughes was checked at a hospital and medically cleared for transport to Hamilton County Jail.

He is scheduled to appear in East Ridge Court on Feb.10 on charges of aggravated assault on police, felony evading, theft over $1,000, reckless driving, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving on a revoked license.

He is being held on a total bond of $87,500.

Click here to see footage of the beginning of the pursuit.

Click here to see footage of the suspect striking the patrol car.

Click here to see footage of the suspect's crash and roll.

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