CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Clarksville police have charged a man with aggravated assault after he allegedly fired shots at an officer during a traffic stop.
Police said officers tried to pull over a vehicle on Circle Drive Saturday around 5 p.m. after running the tags and finding they did not match the registration.
The vehicle fled from the officers and was eventually found behind a house on Woody Drive. The officer approached and yelled verbal commands. One of the suspects, 38-year-old Jason Ray Evitts, came around the corner of the house with his hands up and was handcuffed without incident.
The officer then noticed movement from the driver side of the vehicle and told the suspect to show his hands. The officer said he heard the sound of the slide on a gun being racked and then heard shots coming from the vehicle. The officer returned fire and the suspect ran into the woods.
Police set up a perimeter to look for the suspect, who was identified as 34-year-old Levi Louis West. He eventually came out of the woods and surrendered to police.
Officers found two handguns and a knife at the scene.
West was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a firearm, evading arrest, driving on a suspended license, reckless driving, and driving an unregistered vehicle. His bond was set at $248,500. West has an extensive criminal history involving assault, robbery, and aggravated burglary. He is already on state probation.
Evitts was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. His bond was set at $50,000.
The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be pending. Evitts has an extensive criminal history involving aggravated assault, kidnapping, theft, burglary, and aggravated burglary. He is already on state probation.
The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be pending.