2 charged after leading Warren County authorities on chase, crashing near EMS station

WARREN COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Two people are in jail after leading Warren County law enforcement on a chase through the county and crashing their getaway car near McMinnville.

According to 31st District Attorney General Chris Stanford, Leanna Cantrell and Michael Wright Jr. are currently being held in the Warren County Jail after they attempted to flee a traffic stop Thursday afternoon.

Law enforcement pulled over the white Chevy Impala driven by Cantrell and, with previous knowledge of Wright’s outstanding warrants, instructed both to exit the vehicle, according to a release. The officers performing the stop also reportedly had “credible evidence that Wright made previous threats of physical harm to law enforcement agents should he have any encounter” with them due to his status as a fugitive.

Cantrell, however, opted to put the car in reverse in an attempt to flee, causing the officers to chase the vehicle on foot. Warren County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Justin Colwell was able to reach the vehicle and remove Cantrell, leaving Wright in the passenger seat.

Wright was approached by McMinnville Police Department Det. Chris McCormick but started operating the vehicle from the passenger seat before shifting to the driver’s seat and fleeing toward the McMinnville city limits.

After securing Cantell, Colwell and McCormick were able to locate the Impala, which had crashed in front of EMS Station 4. Authorities said it appeared Wright hit an embankment in front of the station and went “flying through the parking lot.” No injuries were reported from the crash, according to the release. Wright, however, fled on foot.

Authorities then searched the area for Wright, who was found hiding in a storage shed. He was taken into custody without further incident, police said.

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A search of the crashed Impala yielded two police scanners, approximately 172 grams of a white crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine, a loaded AR-15 magazine and other ammunition rounds, according to the release.

Cantrell was charged with accessory after the fact, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, and driving on a suspended license. Wright was served with his outstanding warrants and also charged with probation violation, two counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, simple possession of Schedule III, Schedule II and Schedule IV drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful interception of radio frequency while fleeing and evading arrest by motor vehicle.

Wright’s bail was set at $385,000 on the new charges, but he is being held without bond for the probation violation, authorities said. Cantrell’s bail was set at $320,000. Additional charges are expected from the Warren County Grand Jury, Stanford said in the release.

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