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Four Teenagers Charged With Arson Fire At Cordova High School -Chase Follows Injuring Two Deputies

Release Date: December 8, 2003

Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies took four people into custody early today in connection with a fire at Cordova High School. During their apprehension, one of the group escaped by stealing a deputy's squad car. The chase injured two officers and the suspect.

Here's a summary of the events:

At approximately 2:30 a. m. today, Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Bolling was patrolling on Berryhill in East Shelby County and noticed a black Jeep backed into the parking lot of an animal hospital at 1850 Berrryhill. Four teenagers, two 17 and two 19, were around the vehicle. Officers said they smelled marijuana as they talked to the subjects.

Other deputies responded to the parking lot and all four teenagers were placed into squad cars as officers tried to determine what was going on. During this time, officers discovered marijuana, cocaine and drug equipment in the pockets of one of the suspects.

As officers talked to the four teenagers a burglar/fire alarm sounded nearby at Cordova High School. When deputies arrived at the school, they found a small fire inside an assistant principal's office. The suspect possessing the drugs indicated to officers that the group was responsible for the fire at the school.

Soon after making the statement, the teenager kicked a rear side window out of the squad car where he was being detained. He jumped into to another Shelby County squad car that had the engine running that was parked at the scene. Patrolman Dan Chapman received minor injuries as he tried to stop the suspect.

The young boy then drove away in the squad car and led deputies on a brief chase which ended at the intersection of Highway 64 and Fletcher Trace. The two squad cars hit head-on after the suspect attempted to make a U-turn.

Patrolman Thomas Bolling and the teenager both received minor injuries. Neither was hospitalized.

Shelby County Sheriff's Detectives have charged the teenager with:

• Arson
• Assault
• Vehicle Theft
• Possession of Illegal drugs

The other 17 year old and two others, Michael T. Nelson, 19 and Justin Wayne Lewis, also 19, have all been charged with arson.

Justin Lewis	Michael Nelson