East Precinct Officer Terrance Demarest is recovering at home from soreness after his police car was rammed by a stolen Corvette as its driver tried to avoid apprehension early today.
The driver of the Corvette, Karen Tonahill Moles, 42, of Weaver Drive, faces a number of charges, including four counts of aggravated assault, attempted aggravated assault, vehicle theft, vandalism, two counts evading arrest, driving on a revoked license, and leaving the scene of an accident.
Moles was first encountered in the stolen Corvette Sunday afternoon by a Metro Parks officer who stopped her for speeding in Shelby Park. Moles did not have any identification and complied when the officer told her to turn off her engine. However, when the officer attempted to open the door to the car, Moles quickly started it and sped off, almost knocking the officer to the ground.
East Precinct Sergeant Jeff Bauer spotted the Corvette at 2:45 a.m. today on Dickerson Pike and attempted to stop it. Moles accelerated to a very high rate of speed and Bauer discontinued the pursuit. A short time later, Officer Demarest spotted the car in an alley off Carter Street. Moles backed into the police car and drove away. Demarest gave chase and pursued the Corvette to the dead end of Apex Avenue. Realizing that she had no where to go, Moles put the car in reverse and, at a high rate of speed, rammed Demarest’s police car on the driver’s side. She then drove toward three officers who were in the process of deploying spike strips. They had to jump out of her path.
Moles drove the Corvette to South 5th and Fatherland Streets where she crashed into the fence at the Metro Fire Marshal’s Office. She got out of the car and was attempting to flee on foot when she was apprehended by a police dog.
Demarest was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for evaluation and released.
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