5 Shocking Memphis Police Chases On Perkins Road And The MPD Policy Under Fire

The stretch of Perkins Road in Memphis, Tennessee, has become a dangerous flashpoint for high-speed police pursuits, turning a routine city thoroughfare into a high-risk zone for residents and law enforcement alike. As of December 17, 2025, the community remains on edge following a series of dramatic chases, many involving stolen vehicles and suspects linked to violent felonies, which have resulted in tragic outcomes, including fatalities and injuries to innocent bystanders. This recurring pattern has brought the Memphis Police Department's (MPD) pursuit policy—which is already considered restrictive—under intense public and internal scrutiny, questioning the balance between apprehending criminals and ensuring public safety.

The frequency and intensity of these incidents on and around Perkins Road, particularly near the I-240 interchange and the Parkway Village area, underscore a critical safety issue in South Memphis. Analyzing the details of recent, high-profile chases reveals a worrying trend where suspects, often in stolen cars, are willing to risk everything to evade capture, dramatically increasing the danger for every vehicle and pedestrian in their path. The consequences of these evasive maneuvers, often ending in devastating crashes, have forced a difficult conversation about the efficacy and public cost of police pursuits in dense urban environments.

The Anatomy of Danger: Key Incidents on Perkins Road

Perkins Road, a major north-south artery, is a central corridor for various forms of criminal activity and subsequent police intervention. The area's geography, with its proximity to I-240 and commercial centers, makes it an ideal, albeit dangerous, escape route for suspects. Over the last few years, several specific incidents have highlighted the extreme risks associated with police chases in this area, creating a climate of fear and caution for local residents.

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• The Fatal Stolen Car Crash Near Parkway Village (July 2023): One of the most tragic recent events occurred in July 2023 when a stolen car, fleeing from the Memphis Police Department, crashed near the intersection of Cottonwood and Perkins Road. This devastating incident resulted in the deaths of two individuals and left four others injured. The pursuit began when officers attempted to stop the vehicle, which was later confirmed to be stolen. The sheer loss of life in this chase brought national attention to the high cost of pursuits.
• MPD Squad Car Strikes Bystander Vehicle (Recent Incident): In a stark illustration of the danger to non-involved parties, an MPD squad car conducting a pursuit in the 2800 block of Perkins Road struck a bystander's vehicle. While the full details of injuries are often not immediately released, such incidents confirm that even a police vehicle, driven under high-stress conditions, can become a hazard to the community it is trying to protect.
• Robbery and Carjacking Chase Incidents (Ongoing Pattern): Perkins Road has been the site of multiple chases initiated by crimes like armed robbery and carjacking. In one notable instance, three teenagers were charged after a series of robberies led to a police chase that began at the Sleep Inn, located at 2700 Perkins Road. Another incident involved a carjacking suspect in the 3100 block of Perkins Road, often leading to a high-speed pursuit as the suspects attempt to flee the area.
• Suspects Crash on Perkins Near I-240: Numerous reports document suspects crashing their vehicles on Perkins Road, particularly near the I-240 interstate exchange, while attempting to evade police in stolen cars. These crashes often cause significant traffic disruption, property damage, and potential injury, shutting down portions of the busy corridor.
• High-Speed Pursuit Linked to Homicide: In another high-stakes scenario, a pursuit was initiated when officers attempted to pull over a vehicle linked to a recent homicide investigation. While the exact crash location is often not specified as Perkins Road, the initial attempt to stop a homicide suspect in a high-crime area like South Memphis highlights the extreme nature of the crimes often preceding these chases.

The Fatal Cost: Stolen Cars, Crashes, and Bystander Risk

The core issue surrounding the Perkins Road police chases is the disproportionate risk they pose to the public versus the severity of the initial crime. While the MPD's policy is intended to limit pursuits, the reality on the ground often involves suspects in stolen vehicles—a crime that does not inherently meet the "violent felony" criteria for a pursuit—who then drive recklessly, turning a property crime into a life-threatening situation.

The July 2023 crash, where two people died in a collision with a fleeing stolen car, is a grim case study of this danger. The chase that began on Cottonwood and turned onto Perkins Road ended in catastrophe, illustrating the lack of regard suspects have for traffic laws or human life when desperate to escape. This incident, along with the reported case of an MPD squad car hitting a bystander's vehicle, fuels the public debate: does the risk of a high-speed chase outweigh the benefit of apprehending a suspect, especially for property crimes?

The geographical entities of this area—Perkins Road, Parkway Village, I-240, and South Memphis—are intertwined with higher crime statistics, which naturally lead to more police interactions and, consequently, more potential pursuits. The community is forced to live with the constant threat of a high-speed chase erupting on their streets, turning a simple commute or trip to the store into a potentially fatal situation. The entity of the "bystander" has become a central, tragic figure in this ongoing saga.

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MPD's Pursuit Policy: A Risky Balance for South Memphis

The Memphis Police Department (MPD) operates under a restrictive pursuit policy, a standard adopted by many major metropolitan police forces to minimize civilian casualties. The policy generally dictates that officers should only pursue a suspect in cases involving a violent felony. However, the number of pursuits in Memphis has been reported to be increasing, even with this restrictive policy in place.

This paradox—a restrictive policy paired with an increasing number of chases—is a major source of tension. The high frequency of crimes like armed carjacking and aggravated robbery in areas like Perkins Road means that many initial incidents *do* meet the violent felony threshold, thereby justifying a chase under the current policy. However, the moment a pursuit begins, the risk escalates dramatically, which is precisely what the policy is designed to prevent.

Key entities and factors influencing this policy debate include:

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• Policy Entity: The MPD's official 'Pursuit Procedures' are constantly under review, with the goal of balancing officer safety and the imperative to apprehend dangerous criminals against the risk to the general public.
• Crime Data Entity: The high volume of crime in the South Memphis/Perkins Road corridor means officers are more frequently encountering situations that necessitate a pursuit, even under a restrictive policy.
• The 'Violent Felony' Threshold: Critics argue that the definition is too broad, while proponents argue that loosening it would lead to even more dangerous chases for minor offenses. The decision to initiate a high-speed chase is a split-second, high-stakes judgment call made by the officer on the ground.
• Technology and Alternatives: The rise of technologies like GPS tracking darts (StarChase) and the use of helicopter assistance are often cited as safer alternatives to traditional high-speed ground pursuits, offering a way to track a vehicle without the immediate, high-risk chase.

The ongoing struggle for the Memphis Police Department is to find a solution that effectively deters and apprehends criminals operating in high-crime areas like Perkins Road without causing undue harm to the very community they are sworn to protect. The repeated, tragic incidents on this road serve as a constant, sobering reminder of the complex challenges inherent in modern urban policing.

As the city continues to grapple with crime, the Perkins Road police chase incidents remain a critical case study. They highlight the urgent need for a community-wide discussion on police accountability, the role of technology in pursuits, and ultimately, how to make the streets of Memphis safer for everyone, regardless of the police policy in effect.