A 19-year-old man is facing a stack of charges, including five counts of aggravated assault on a federal officer, after Memphis police say he led Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers and Homeland Security agents on a 15-minute chase that topped 130 mph through the city. Trayshun La’Quan Hurd allegedly swerved toward patrol vehicles and brake-checked officers multiple times before a trooper disabled his car with a PIT maneuver.
According to WREG, the pursuit began Wednesday when a THP trooper spotted a gray Infiniti sedan matching a BOLO alert issued by DeSoto County authorities as it traveled on South Third Street. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver put the car in drive and sped off, kicking off the chase.
Wrong-Way Driving and Brake-Checks at Triple-Digit Speeds
Memphis police said the Infiniti reached speeds of 132 mph during the chase, according to the same WREG report. The driver allegedly drove on the wrong side of the road multiple times and ran through several red lights while troopers and Homeland Security agents pursued.
Police also said the driver swerved toward officers’ patrol vehicles and brake-checked them several times during the pursuit, the report notes. It was that escalating danger, per the account, that set the stage for the trooper’s decision to intervene directly and force the chase to an end.
PIT Maneuver Forces the Chase to a Stop
A THP trooper ultimately performed a PIT maneuver on the Infiniti in an attempt to disable it, according to the police report cited by WREG, and the tactic worked, bringing the vehicle to a stop. Rather than surrender, the driver got out and ran, then hopped into another vehicle in the area before officers caught up with him and took him into custody…