19-year-old Cavese Jones of Vestavia Hills, Alabama was allegedly part of a group that stole six new Dodge Challenger Hellcats early Tuesday around 2:00amET from the Don Franklin Chrysler Jeep dealership in Somerset, KY. Jones was arrested Tuesday morning (a few hours after the theft) after he was seen driving a stolen car beside three other stolen cars on the Cumberland Parkway in Adair County heading west.
KSP Post 15 Trooper Brandon Roark observed four of the six vehicles on the Cumberland Parkway in Adair County (heading west) and attempted to perform a traffic stop on them for a speeding violation. The vehicles did not stop when the Trooper activated his emergency equipment and a pursuit ensued, with the cars accelerating to speeds in excess of 180 mph. The pursuit continued until Troopers were able to deploy a tire deflation device and disable the vehicle Jones was operating on I-65 in Warren County. The suspect, Caveze C. Jones, 19, of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit.
Jones was charged with Speeding, Reckless Driving, Wanton Endangerment 1st degree (Police Officer), Fleeing or Evading Police, Receiving Stolen Property (over $10,000), Failure of Non-Owner/Operator to Maintain Insurance and Resisting Arrest.
The case remains under investigation by Trooper Brandon Roark. Trooper Roark was assisted by other KSP Troopers as well as the Glasgow Police Department.
According to the manager of the Don Franklin Chrysler dealership, Adam Bryant, five of the six Dodge Challenger Hellcats have been recovered. One was found in Pulaski County on the side of the Cumberland Parkway and appeared to have run out of gas, another one was found just south of Bowling Green, one in Tennessee, one in Alabama, and one in Adair County (the one Jones was driving). The 6th vehicle has not been found yet, but according to the vehicle's GPS, appears to be in Alabama.
A new Hellcat is worth about $95,000, according to the manager, who said the six cars totaled nearly $600,000.
Anyone who has information about the theft of these cars is urged to call Somerset police at 606-679-6366.
