December 5, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
A Goodlettsville woman driving a stolen car led a DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department deputy on a pursuit into Smith County Thursday before being arrested.
28-year-old Megan Leigh Wilson is charged with evading arrest, theft of property, driving on a revoked or suspended license, and reckless endangerment. Her bond totals $36,000 and she will be in court December 15.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on December 1 a deputy was summoned to Hall Road due to a report of a possible stolen Toyota Avalon which had been spray painted black. The officer spotted a vehicle matching the description on Lower Helton Road in Alexandria and obtained tag information through central dispatch which confirmed that the car had been stolen as reported by the Lebanon Police Department. The driver of the car, Wilson, sped away and the deputy initiated a pursuit into Smith County. Although the Smith County Sheriff’s Department had put down spike strips, Wilson went around them. During the pursuit, Wilson crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic almost hitting other vehicles and before stopping, crashed through several private property gates on Ben Gentry Lane. Wilson then bailed out of the car and unsuccessfully tried to flee on foot. The deputy learned that in addition to being in possession of a stolen vehicle, Wilson was driving on a suspended license. The estimated value of the stolen car was $2,025.
In addition to the Smith County Sheriff’s Department, the Gordonsville Police Department assisted the DeKalb County officer in apprehending Wilson.
According to Sheriff Ray, Wilson thought she could elude authorities because she had successfully done it before in other counties that have a no pursuit policy in certain cases.