Memphis man caught after chase

A Memphis man is under arrest after an early morning chase and resulting accident in DeSoto County. He now is facing charges in DeSoto County, Southaven, and in Memphis. 

Maurice Johnson of Memphis, just days away from turning 50 years old, was seen by a DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department deputy off I-55 at Pleasant Hill Road about 7:15 s.m. Monday morning. Johnson was seen near what appeared to be a disabled vehicle and the deputy saw Johnson changing a tire.  

Checking the license tag, the deputy discovered the car to be a stolen vehicle and Johnson then fled on foot.  

Johnson was caught by the deputy and became uncooperative. He was tased, still resisted the deputy, and tried to get the deputy’s handgun. When he couldn’t get the gun, Johnson again fled on foot back to the disabled vehicle.  

At the car, the deputy demanded Johnson show his hands, but Johnson reached into the car and pulled out what appeared to be a gun, jumped into his vehicle and sped off, starting a chase up Highway 51 toward Southaven. The vehicle crashed at Highway 51 and Turman Drive near the Landers Center and Johnson was taken into custody.  

Johnson now faces several charges, along with an aggravated assault charge in Memphis and several warrants out of Southaven, according to the Sheriff’s Department.  

There were no injuries sustained in the incident.