Lee Trawick news@greenepublishing.com
According to a Hamilton County Sheriff's Office report, on Tuesday, June 28, Jerome Watson was traveling towards Jennings on County Road 141, near the intersection of Northwest 60th Drive, when he was stopped by four subjects standing in the roadway, blocking his way of travel. At this time, two suspects approached the driver and passenger sides of the vehicle, a green Infinity SUV, while two remained in front. The two suspects approaching Watson's vehicle each pulled out black handguns. They proceeded to point them at Watson's head, while the suspect on the passenger's side entered the SUV. The remaining suspects then entered the vehicle's backseat and demanded Watson drive down Northwest 60th Drive, a secluded dead-end road. Watson pleaded with the suspects to take the SUV and let him go, but the suspects refused. One of the suspects in the backseat proceeded to beat Watson with the butt of a handgun, telling him: "Don't turn a robbery into a homicide." Once down Northwest 60th Drive, Watson was instructed to exit the vehicle, at which time one of the suspects exited the rear of the vehicle, got into the driver's seat, and fled the scene with Watson's SUV.
At approximately 2:46 p.m., the Hamilton County 911 center received a call informing them of the situation. At that point, dispatchers advised all units that a carjacking at gunpoint had just taken place near Northwest 60th Drive. The vehicle they were looking for was a green Infinity sport utility vehicle (SUV) with four suspects in the vehicle who were believed to be armed with firearms.
While en route, Deputy Fouraker advised they had located the vehicle traveling southbound on Northwest County Road 141 and had turned west towards Madison County. Deputy Fouraker stated that, while in pursuit, he activated his lights and siren. At this time, the suspect vehicle began fleeing at a high rate of speed. Also en route to assist Deputy Fouraker, was Deputy Stephens. Deputy Fouraker stated the suspects were entering the opposing lane of travel, nearly striking several vehicles. Then, Deputy Fouraker stated the suspects had entered Madison County, but had turned back into Hamilton County on State Road 6 West.
As the vehicle continued to flee eastbound on State Road 6 at a high rate of speed, Deputies McDonald and Stephens had set up spike strips at different locations in hopes of bringing this dangerous situation to a resolution. However, the spike strips were unsuccessful, as the suspects continued to flee at their maintained high rate of speed. Deputy McDonald then joined pursuit with Deputy Fouraker. As Deputy Stephens saw the suspects' vehicle approaching with deputies in pursuit, he successfully deployed his spike strips, striking the right front and rear tire. Deputy Stephens then cleared the roadway of his spike strips and joined the pursuit.
Even with two flat tires, the suspects continued to elude law enforcement. The pursuit continued for approximately two to three miles. While attempting to pull alongside the passenger side of the vehicle, Deputy McDonald noticed one of the suspects pointing a handgun out of the passenger rear window at him, firing at least one round. Deputy McDonald then backed off the vehicle in order to maneuver his cruiser around to the driver's side. Once positioned on the driver-side, he deployed his law enforcement-issued handgun, pointed it at the rear driver-side tire, and fired five rounds in hopes of bringing the vehicle to a stop. As the vehicle was nearing Interstate 75, Deputy McDonald made the conscious decision to strike the suspects' rear driver's side with his front bumper in a PIT (pursuit intervention technique) maneuver. This forced the suspects' vehicle off the roadway and into the ditch on State Road 6 West, near the intersection of Southwest 71st Loop, approximately one mile from Interstate 75.
When the vehicle stopped, deputies exited their vehicles with their weapons drawn. Deputy Stephens then approached the rear of the vehicle and came in contact with the passengers in the rear of the vehicle, who were later identified as 13-year-old Javondrick Bristol and 13-year old Daniel Sowell. Deputy Stephens detained the two teenagers and placed them in the rear of a patrol car. Meanwhile, Deputy McDonald and Deputy Fouraker detained the other two occupants of the vehicle, where it was determined that 17-year-old Cherry was the vehicle's driver and 16-year-old Ra'Quise Daniels was in the passenger seat.
Two firearms and a lighter resembling a handgun were recovered from inside the vehicle. The incident report filed states, once the four suspects were booked into the Hamilton County Jail, it was determined Cherry was the vehicle's driver throughout the entire incident. It also states at least one of the suspects also noticed law enforcement behind them with lights and sirens while Cherry was fleeing and eluding. All charges on the four suspects were sent to the Department of Juvenile Justice and the State Attorney's Office. The charges for the four suspects are as follows:
De'Kavis Cherry: one count of carjacking with a firearm or weapon; one count of flee/elude officer with disregard of safety to persons or property; one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill; one count of kidnap-false imprisonment of an adult; one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person under 18-years-of-age; and aggravated assault on an officer, firefighter or EMT.
Ra'Quise Daniels: one count of carjacking with a firearm or weapon; one count of kidnap-false imprisonment of an adult; one count of unlawful possession of firearm by a person under 18-years-of-age; and aggravated assault on an officer, firefighter or EMT.
Javondrick Bristol: one count of carjacking with a firearm or weapon; one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill; one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person under 18-years-of-age; one count of aggravated assault on an officer, firefighter or EMT; and one count of kidnap-false imprisonment of an adult.
Daniel Sowell: one count of carjacking with a firearm or weapon; one count of kidnap-false imprisonment of an adult; one count of aggravated assault on an officer, firefighter or EMT; and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a person under 18-years-of-age.