Teen steals MPD squad car; flees to grandmother’s house

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — After a teen stole a Memphis Police squad car on Sunday, officers say he went to his grandmother’s house for help.

Tonight, a Memphis grandmother has a message for her grandson.

“Remember what we taught you,” she said. “If you do something illegal or bad, there are consequences coming for you.”

At 2:06 p.m., officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle involved in a robbery in the area of Hollywood and James Road.

Both suspects ran from the vehicle.

One suspect was detained immediately and the other suspect stole a squad car.

The stolen squad car led to a pursuit that ended when a suspect stopped at his grandmother’s house for help.

“We were just having a normal day sitting here watching the game,” she said. “We heard a knock on the door and it was one of my grandboys trying to get in from the police.”

The shaken grandmother who wished to remain anonymous shared her grandson’s frantic plea as police were hot on his heels.

“He said, ‘Help Grandma, help,” she said. “I couldn’t get to the door fast enough to say anything. By that time, police chased him around the house and threw him on the ground.”

Bystanders say officers swiftly detained the teenager at Mountain Terrance near James Road.

“I seen the police cars right here, so I’m trying to turn on the street,” resident Willy Mickens. “Officers were telling me I can’t come here.”

Memphis Police say that during the incident, no officers were injured. Nor were there any vehicles damaged.

Amidst the chaos, 60-year-old Willy Mickens said the police physically harassed him due to mistaken identity.

“He jacked me up by my pants and snatched me out of the car,” Mickens said.

Mickens told WREG that police followed him and detained him at a nearby gas station after they claimed he fit the description of the teenage suspect.

“They told me there was an investigation going on involving a young guy,” Mickens said. “I said, ‘A young guy?’ And why would you jack me up in the seat of my pants in front of everyone out there making me look like I’m a criminal.”

WREG has reached out to the Memphis Police about Mickens’ claims to see if they have a comment. They have not responded yet.

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