Police capture carjacking that led to crash, teen charged

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A driver was nearly dragged by his own vehicle after a carjacker forced him out of the car at a Whitehaven gas station Thursday afternoon.

The stolen Nissan Maxima was later involved in a crash with two MPD squad cars, and a teenager was taken into custody.

Isaiah Hawkins, 18, faces several charges, including carjacking, grand larceny and aggravated assault of a first responder.

The carjacking at Marathon in the 3100 block of Elvis Presley Boulevard was caught on camera. In the video, someone can be seen getting out of the driver's seat of a red Nissan Maxima and jumping into the victim's car parked near a pump.

The victim told police the car thief pointed a black handgun at his head, demanded his money and told him to get out of the vehicle.

The victim is seen searching for something in her car when the carjacker takes off, almost knocking her to the ground.

Police said an hour later they spotted the victim's car near McLemore Avenue and Orleans Street and tried to stop it, but the driver took off.

According to MPD, officers were pursuing the driver along Mississippi Boulevard, just west of Crump, when the driver turned around and intentionally struck two marked police cars.

They said the driver, later identified as Hawkins, continued to flee from officers and eventually jumped out of the stolen Maxima at Louisville Avenue and New Chicago Street in North Memphis.

The car was still moving and crashed into a tree in the 1200 block of Capital Avenue.

Police said Hawkins was arrested after a short foot chase and they found a gun nearby. Hawkins was also charged with using a firearm during a dangerous crime, evading arrest and driving with a revoked license.

A person with Hawkins was seen leaving the Marathon in the red Nissan, but so far Hawkins is the only one who has been arrested. He is due to appear in court on Monday.