MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Police said a man is now charged in a carjacking, chase, and crash Wednesday that ended with two women injured.
Rodney Risby faces several charges, including carjacking, aggravated robbery, evading arrest, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and more. He is currently being held in the Shelby County jail on $75,000 bond. A public defender was assigned to the case on Jan. 16.
According to the police affidavit, a man reported a carjacking about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, in the 2100 block of Sycamore View Rd. The victim told police he was sitting in his 1998 Lexus ES300 when two suspects approached with guns and demanded his vehicle and cell phone.
MPD said the phone was found near a dumpster the next morning by someone on the grounds crew at The Abington Apartments on Scott Crossing, about three miles from where the carjacking happened.
According to the affidavit, when officers arrived about 10:40 a.m. Wednesday to get the cell phone for evidence, they spotted the carjacked Lexus at Prince Rupert and Scott Crossing Dr. They set up surveillance, and when a man got in the car to drive away, they tried to initiate a traffic stop. The affidavit said the driver refused to stop and led officers on a high-speed chase.
Investigators said the driver lost control and crashed into a pickup truck in the 4300 block of Old Raleigh LaGrange, not far from Old Austin Peay Highway and Stage Rd. in Raleigh. Police said two women in the truck were trapped and the jaws of life had to be used to free them. They were taken to Regional One Hospital, the driver in critical with severe leg injuries and the passenger in non-critical.
Just after the crash, MPD said the suspect, identified as Risby, was taken to Regional One Hospital in non-critical condition.
According to the affidavit, Risby refused to speak under questioning, but had apparently told the transporting officers that he took the Lexus because he was cold and did not want to walk to the store. Police also said they found a gun in the stolen car at the time of the crash.
