MEMPHIS, Tennessee — A man has been charged after Memphis Police said he crashed trying to evade an officer, elbowed the officer - causing the officer to fire a shot, and struggled with the officer and a citizen who jumped in to help.
Traderrick Carter was charged with assault against a first responder, drivers to exercise due care, obedience to police officers, reckless driving, resisting official detention. and motor vehicle theft. The case was sent to the grand jury on Nov. 12. He is currently out of jail on $25,000 bond.
MPD said it all began about 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, when an officer tried to pull over a Nissan Maxima without a license plate and with a broken rear window. Investigators said the driver took off, and the officer did not chase.
Investigators said the officer than spotted the car a short time later and tried to pull the driver over again. They said the driver went around traffic and crashed at Shelby Drive and Mendenhall Road.
Police said when the officer approached, the driver was moving around, so the officer told him to get out of the car. They said the officer saw an empty gun holster in the floorboard and pulled out his own gun. When the driver got out, investigators said the driver elbowed the officer, causing the officer to fire a shot and drop the gun.
Investigators said the driver fought the officer as the officer tried to arrest him, at one point breaking free. MPD said a citizen stepped in to help the officer, and the two were able to subdue the driver while another citizen called 911.
Investigators said the Nissan Maxima was determined to have been stolen from the Chuck Hutton car lot on Mount Moriah.
Both the officer and suspect were taken to hospitals, but MPD said neither were injured by gunfire.
