Suspect Drives Off With Cop Inside Vehicle, Gets Fatally Shot

Mt. Juliet, TN – A Mt. Juliet police officer fatally shot a combative suspect inside a vehicle on Wednesday night after a suspect took off with the officer inside the car, according to police.

The incident occurred near South Mount Juliet Road and Central Pike at approximately 11 p.m. on Nov. 2, WZTV reported.

A Mount Juliet Police Department (MJPD) officer stopped a vehicle and was attempting to arrest a suspect who was sitting in the passenger seat of the car when the passenger suddenly slid over to the driver’s side and got behind the wheel, according to police.

As the officer tried to subdue and apprehend the suspect, the suspect suddenly began driving away, The Tennessean reported.

MJPD said the officer became “trapped in the car” and repeatedly ordered the suspect to stop, but to no avail.

He also deployed his Taser, but it did not have any effect, police said.

The officer ultimately fired his duty weapon, striking the suspect and bringing the vehicle to a stop, WZTV reported.

The officer immediately began rendering aid to the suspect and was quickly joined by additional officers and emergency medical personnel, but the suspect did not survive.

The suspect was later identified as 39-year-old Jermaine Allen, WKRN reported.

“This was a very traumatic incident with a loss of life,” MJPD Chief James Hambrick said in the wake of the fatal officer-involved shooting, according to WZTV. “All are in my prayers, including the family and friends of those involved.”

South Mt. Juliet Road was shut down in the wake of the incident and reopened at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, The Tennessean reported.

No other details were immediately released.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is handling the ongoing independent investigation into the incident “to ensure our officer responded properly and per protocol,” Chief Hambrick noted.

The officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, as per protocol, WZTV reported.

The TBI said in a statement that its investigative findings will be forwarded to the District Attorney General’s office for review, WKRN reported.

“The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters,” the agency said. “That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBI’s involvement.”