On April 12, a rash, last minute decision landed a Lone Grove man in jail. At approximately 7:00 p.m., Marshall County Deputy Chris Watson was requested to visit a residence on Oakview Road in regards to Tayden Sacco allegedly brandishing a firearm.
Once Watson arrived on scene, the reporting party alleged that a black Dodge Challenger pulled up in front of the residence, and pointed a weapon at him. According to the police report, the altercation began between the reporting party and the suspects when the occupants of the car “had come by and was flipping him off.” They were talking to the reporting party and his neighbor.
The suspects then stopped the car and asked the reporting party if he had something to say, and that’s when the passenger of the car allegedly pulled out the pistol and pointed it at the victim. He also claimed that the driver exited the vehicle with an assault rifle, but when he questioned the suspect what his plans were with that rifle, the suspect responded with “I have nothing for you.”
Then, he got back into the car and sped off, spraying gravel in its wake. Before speeding off, the victim was able to take a photo of the Challenger.
Apparently luck was on the side of law enforcement, because as both victims were filling out the statement forms that Watson gave them, the deputy heard what sounded like loud pipes on a vehicle. The victim began yelling that the car was coming back. However, Watson had already noticed the vehicle to be the one in question and was already running toward his unit to start the pursuit.
AsWatsonbegantopursue Sacco, the suspect decided to put the Challenger’s abilities to the test. He sped away from Watson, and Watson gave chase. Even though the Challenger was “leaving him behind,” Watson remained steady on the suspect’s tail.
He notified dispatch that theyheadedwestonOakview Road. Then, they went across Lark Road onto Kaney Road thentoPostOfficeRoad.Watson then noticed that Sacco entered a private gravel road. The deputy knew it was a dead end, so he hurried toward whatheassumedwould be the suspect boxed in.
However, Sacco had different plans. As Watson was making the curves on the gravel road, the suspect was charging back toward him at a “very high rate of speed.” Watson was forced to slam on his brakes and skid to a stop beforeSacconarrowlymissed thefrontendofWatson’sunit.
After turning around, the duotraveleddownPostOffice Road then northbound onto EnosRoad.Saccothenturned left on Shay Cut-Off Road, then turned south. Knowing that Deputy Stafford’s unit was better equipped to chase the Challenger, Watson let him take the lead on the chase.
Even though the Challenger had a good distance on the deputies, they were still able to chase him by his taillights. The deputies lost sight of the vehicle for a little bit, but they refused to give up.
Watson pulled into the MegaStarCasinoparkinglot, but didn’t see Sacco. He then made contact with a civilian who informed him that they saw the Challenger turn down Fobb-Bottom Road. Once the deputies learned this information, they were able to find Sacco and corner him, ending the dangerous pursuit.
Deputies found four occupants in the car. Sacco, a 21-year-old male from Lone Grove was the driver. Jraven Harvell, an 18-year-old from Ardmore, Amber Blackbird, an 18-year-old female, and Ashlynn Burkhalter, a 20-year-old female were the other occupants.
Watson read Sacco his Miranda Rights and the suspect agreed to speak with the deputy. Sacco said he ran because “he was scared and that he had been drinking earlier in the day.” He also stated that he knew what he did was stupid and that “he was sorry.”
Sacco admitted to taking the gun out of the car, but was unaware that his passenger did the same. Sacco then informed Watson that the guns were in the trunk of his car. When Watson inquired as to why this event transpired, Sacco said “the guy said something to them and it made him mad.”
Sacco was then transported to the Marshall County Jail and booked on charges of Endangering Others while Eluding a Police Officer, Reckless Driving, Feloniously Pointing a Firearm, and Possession of a Firearm. An online search only found a speeding ticket for Sacco.