CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – A runaway Clarksville teen who was previously listed as endangered is now wanted for multiple violent crimes, according to Clarksville police.
Tai Harrell, 16, was last spotted March 25 after jumping out of a vehicle near The Verge Apartments (Nolen Road) in Clarksville.
Since October 2018, police have taken out 24 juvenile petitions for Tai Harrell’s involvement in property and traffic related crimes. Police said he has been linked to multiple incidents of auto thefts, credit card fraud, and evading police.
Investigators think he has evaded police through a network of people willing to hide him. He has also been known to recklessly flee from police in a vehicle on multiple occasions.
Until recently, Harrell was only accused of property and traffic related crimes. On March 24 around 9:30 p.m. Harrell was allegedly driving a stolen car when he pulled up next to another car on the 101st Airborne Parkway and pointed a firearm at the people inside. Police believe Harrell knew the victims, who were uninjured, but did not report the incident to police until the next day after another violent encounter.
During the second incident, the victims were spotted by Harrell around 3 p.m. near the movie theater on Tiny Town Rd. He is accused of trying to run them off the road. They fled but he followed them on the interstate, ramming their vehicle and pointing a firearm at the occupants.
Harrell continued to ram the vehicle from the interstate to the area near Governor’s Square Mall, when the victims called police.
Officers were able to locate Harrell in the stolen vehicle but chose not to pursue him due to to his reckless driving and possible endangerment of the public.
The vehicle was found abandoned a short time later at The Verge Apartments. Police cordoned off the area for a search and kept watch throughout the night, but did not locate Harrell.
Police are are once again seeking the public’s assistance to locate Harrell. Law enforcement will not hesitate to criminally charge anyone who chooses to hide or assist him. He has juvenile petitions on file for charges ranging from runaway, auto theft, burglary, felony evading, reckless endangerment, credit card fraud, to multiple counts of aggravated assault.
Tai Harrell should be considered armed and dangerous.
According to officials, Harrell initially left his residence in Clarksville on Aug. 7, 2018.
Harrell had only recently met the TBI criteria as endangered through coordination with family, but now is considered a wanted person by the Clarksville Police Department.
He is described as a black male with black hair and brown eyes. He’s approximately 5-foot-3-inches tall and 120 pounds. Officers noted that Harrell’s hair may be shorter than it is in the photos.
If spotted, call 911. Anyone with information can contact Detective Bartel at 931-648-0656 ext. 5144, the TIPSLINE at 931-645-8477, or submit a tip anonymously at P3tips.com/591.