Coordinated police work led to today’s arrest of two men who, with the driver’s two-year-old son in the backseat, led police on a high speed chase a short time after they robbed Check Into Cash at 4696 Lebanon Pike.
Hermitage Precinct Officer Derrick Hutchinson spotted the suspect getaway car, a silver Nissan Sentra, on Tulip Grove Road at 11:15 a.m. The car, driven by Kepono Tarpy, 28, of Regents Park Circle, refused to pull over. The pursuit was terminated as Tarpy drove off at a high rate of speed. Officer Hutchinson was able to provide the suspect’s direction of travel to a police helicopter pilot who then followed the Nissan as it traveled in excess of 100 miles per hour on I-24.
Tarpy exited the Interstate at Haywood Lane and stopped at Walgreens at 1809 Antioch Pike. He stayed in the car with his son and was taken into custody without incident. His passenger, convicted felon Justin Easley, 24, fled on foot. Easley, of Nashville, was armed with a handgun. With Traffic Officer Don Davidson in foot pursuit, Easley ran from behind the Walgreens directly into the path of a police SUV driven by Special Response Team officer Melvin Brown, III. The vehicle struck Easley, who was knocked to the ground. Officer Davidson was able to kick the handgun away from Easley and take him into custody without further incident. Easley was transported to General Hospital with an injury to his ankle. Upon his release from the hospital, Easley will be charged with aggravated robbery and evading arrest. His arrest history shows convictions for aggravated burglary and assault.
Tarpy is charged with aggravated robbery, evading arrest, and reckless endangerment. His son is with a family member. Tarpy’s arrest history reflects an arrest for unlawful weapon possession in 2000.
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