MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A second person charged in a 2023 robbery and police chase has pleaded guilty to some of the charges, according to court records.
Court records show Rashad Ballard pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of theft of property $10,000-$60,000. He was sentenced to six years in prison on each count, with three years suspended, to run concurrently. He will then serve three years’ probation upon release.
The Memphis Police Department (MPD) said three people, including a 15-year-old, were charged in connection with the May 2023 police chase through the city involving a stolen car used in at least one robbery.
Memphis Police investigators said a Hyundai Sonata had been reported stolen May 14, 2023, about 11:50 p.m. from the 4600 block of Forest Oak Way. They said broken glass was found near where the car had been parked.
Two days later, on May 16, at about 6:20 p.m., MPD said officers with the Auto Theft Task Force spotted the stolen Sonata at an apartment complex in the Quince and Five Colonies area. They said three males were in the car when it stopped in the 3100 block of Krystal Lake.
Investigators said officers saw the suspects remove items from the vehicle and throw them in a dumpster. The driver took off, but two of the suspects were arrested and charged at that time - 21-year-old Rashad Ballard and an unidentified 15-year-old.
MPD said officers spotted the stolen Sonata just after noon the next day on May 17 in the area of Watkins and Corning in Frayser.
MPD said officers chased the driver to South Memphis and the area of Lauderdale and Dison. Investigators said the vehicle crashed on McMillan and one person ran from the car. The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Randall Ballard, was caught soon after.
Randall Ballard previously pleaded guilty to several of the charges, including a separate case involving robbing a woman at an ATM, in May 2024.
Editor's Note: Originally police said the car had been used in at least two robberies. In a release Thursday, May 18, 2023, they said it was used in at least one.