A robbery suspect is in custody following a high-speed chase that began on Hickory Highlands Drive near Bell Road at 8:30 Wednesday morning.
Police identified the suspect as parolee Luther D. Newsom, 22. Newsom is believed to be the man who robbed a 30-year-old Nashville woman at Acklen Park Drive at 11:40 a.m. Tuesday as she was retrieving items from the trunk of her car. The victim said that a man parked near her, got out and said, “I’m gonna need your purse.” He took it and then fled in a dark blue Nissan Altima.
When police tried to stop Newsom Wednesday, he fled, leading police in pursuit before he finally wrecked the vehicle at the Fifth & Main development in East Nashville at about 9:45 a.m.
The suspect’s vehicle struck several other cars before coming to a rest, according to police spokeswoman Kris Mumford. Several police vehicles were also damaged during the pursuit.
No one was injured in the wreck, Mumford said. But one officer was taken to a hospital to receive treatment for a slight shoulder injury he sustained after he fell while running to the car.