Robbery suspect charged with traffic violations

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May 1, 2009

By Jean Cole The News Courier Fri May 01, 2009, 09:49 PM CDT

A man charged Wednesday with robbing a Capshaw bank and leading city and county law-enforcement officers on a chase that reached 120 mph is now facing several traffic violations, an official said.

Athens Police have charged Stephen Lamar Vaughn, 40, of 315 E. Main St., Lynch, Ky., with reckless driving, attempting to elude, speeding, running a red light and leaving the scene of an accident, said Capt. Marty Bruce.

Limestone Sheriff Mike Blakely said Vaughn could also face charges of reckless endangerment and criminal mischief for ramming Chief Deputy Randy King’s car during the chase. However, the sheriff said those charges would likely come when the case is presented to a grand jury.

The Sheriff’s Department had already charged Vaughn Wednesday with first-degree robbery in connection with the armed robbery of $4,500 from Reliance Bank at 27510 Capshaw Road in Harvest.

Officials said Vaughn entered the bank about 10:20 a.m., drew a gun — which may have been the BB pistol later found in his vehicle — and handed a teller a note that read: “Put the money in the bag and no one will get shot. I got two men outside with AK-47 rifles.”

Athens Officer Jimmy Flynt, who filed the additional traffic violations against Vaughn, was the first to spot the gray Pontiac described as the suspect’s vehicle immediately after the heist.

Bruce credited both Flynt and dispatchers with enabling the quick apprehension of Vaughn.

“Officer Flynt did a very good job when he spotted the suspect’s car,” Bruce said. “He was very observant. He also did a very good job in the pursuit. We were very lucky no one was injured. The suspect showed no regard for the safety of the officers or the public. The 911 office did a great job also. At the time of the call, they relayed information to our dispatchers so Officer Flynt received the information in a very timely manner.”

Flynt saw Vaughn on Nick Davis Road driving east but was unable to stop him. Athens and Limestone officers chased Vaughn from U.S. 31 to Pryor Street to Jefferson Street to U.S. 72 East and onto I-65. The chase, which at times reached 120 mph on 31 and 65 and involved 20 cars, slowed to 60 mph when Vaughn’s vehicle struck spike strips rolled out to stop him. He was eventually rammed by a deputy near the Ardmore exit, forcing him to spin into a guardrail.

Vaughn remained in the Limestone County Jail Friday in lieu of posting a $20,000 bond.

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