Four suspects accused of kidnapping and robbing a couple were quickly apprehended by sheriff’s deputies and Murfreesboro Police Saturday morning off Memorial Boulevard.

Cpl. Tyler Morton and Deputy Jared Keith responded to the Old Lebanon Highway home where the victims, who were in their 60s, detailed the home invasion where four suspects entered their home and stole property. The victims were not injured but shaken up. Paramedics examined them.

Keeping Community Safe

After an investigation, Detective Steve Kohler charged suspects Mary Beth Beard, 25, of Lascassas, Rafael Jamarcus Grissom, 31, who is homeless, Drennard Tradel Riley, 31, of Poplar Avenue and Rodrick Larry Cook, 34, of Hanover Street with aggravated robbery, kidnapping and theft. Deputy Jeff Verbruggen charged Beard with felony evading arrest and driving on a suspended license (second offense). Cook was charged with evading arrest.

The investigation led to solving a second crime that occurred earlier Saturday.

Murfreesboro Police Detective Sgt. Katrina Henderson charged Grissom, Riley and Cook with burglary and theft of the Cricket store earlier Saturday morning on Middle Tennessee Boulevard.

“We were able to recover property that was taken from there,” Sgt. Henderson said.

Just The Facts

The case began when Patrol Sgt. Chris Kauffman said deputies responded to the call about 8 a.m. on Old Lebanon Road. Dispatchers developed Beard as a suspect and gave a description of her vehicle. While en route, Sgt. Kauffman spotted the suspects’ vehicle on Memorial Boulevard near Cherry Lane. Sgt. Kauffman, followed by Deputy Verbruggen and Reserve Deputy Michael Daniels, radioed for backup because of four suspects in the vehicle.

They followed the suspects until the driver cut in front of another vehicle and turned onto Osborne Lane. The deputies initiated a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle and as it rolled to a stop one of the male suspects exited the vehicle and ran on foot.

“She took off through the yard in the vehicle,” Sgt. Kauffman said. “I gave chase. She started to come back on the roadway. Sgt. Glenn Morton and Deputy Verbruggen blocked her.”

Deputies and Murfreesboro Police Officer Brice Robbins took the woman and two male passengers into custody. Sheriff Robert Arnold responded.

Perimeter Set-Up, K-9s Brought In

Murfreesboro Police and Rutherford County Sheriff’s Deputies set up a perimeter to apprehend the fleeing suspect. Deputy Mike Hoekstra and his K-9 Balu tracked the suspect with Special Response Team members Cpl. David Foote and Sgt. Jon Levi and paramedic supervisor Chris Clark.

“They tracked him about 200 yards into the woods,” Kauffman said. “The suspect was on the other side of a real dense thicket. He jumped up to run. When he ran, he ran into Murfreesboro Police perimeter officers and was taken into custody. He was believed to be armed.

“Some of the property from the victims was found in the suspect’s vehicle,” Sgt. Kauffman said.

Sheriff Robert Arnold said both the sheriff’s office and Murfreesboro Police worked together to take the suspects into custody.

“It was a team effort,” Sheriff Arnold said.

The suspects were booked into Rutherford County Adult Detention Center where they are being held. A hearing is scheduled next year in General Sessions Court.