The Madison County District Attorney’s Office announced Tyrone Jerrell Staten, 21 of Jackson, pled guilty to Aggravated Assault of a Law-Enforcement Officer and Felony Evasion stemming from an April 2021 incident that resulted in a Madison police officer being dragged by a speeding car.
Judge Steve Ratliff sentenced Tyrone Staten to twenty-five years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, with ten years suspended.
On April 20, 2021, Madison police officer Bryce McCarra spotted a car associated with a shoplifting incident from the previous day stopped at a red light at the corner of Bozeman and Highway 463. Officer McCarra pulled the vehicle over and saw the driver matched the suspect from video surveillance of the previous day’s shoplifting felony.
McCarra asked the driver to step out of the car, but Staten refused and proceeded to roll up his window. Officer McCarra reached into the window to try and unlock the door, but Staten continued to roll up the window and sped off. Officer McCarra’s hand remained trapped inside
the vehicle. Staten increased speed and fled toward I-55, dragging Officer McCarra with him.
As the car approached the I-55 Southbound ramp, Officer McCarra broke free and rolled to a stop near Highway 463 and the I-55 southbound ramp. Staten continued at a high-speed rate on I-55 South until officers in pursuit forced his car off the road around the 106-mile marker.
Staten was forcibly removed from his vehicle. After a brief struggle, officers took Staten into custody. First, they took him to Merit Health for assessment. Shortly after, they booked him in the Madison County Detention Center for a felony of Fleeing Law Enforcement, Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Resisting Arrest.
Officer McCarra was transported to UMC with minor injuries and later released. Staten will serve his remaining fifteen years in the custody of MDOC and, when released, will be placed on probation.
“We are thankful Officer McCarra didn’t suffer any serious injuries during this incident and was able to return home to his wife and children,” stated District Attorney Bubba Bramlett. “Running from a law enforcement agent puts innocent lives at risk, and if you run, you can expect additional prison time.”
