The man accused of stealing a donation jar from a Dickson County restaurant – which subsequently prompted a multiple-agency pursuit – has been arrested.
Officials with the Dickson Police Department said Aaron Gooch was taken into custody Wednesday morning.
Warrants for Gooch had been issued after he allegedly tried to pay for a meal at the Camino Real Mexican restaurant in Dickson with a stolen credit card.
Surveillance video showed the suspect grabbing a donation jar, which had been set up for an 18-year-old fatal fire victim, on his way out.
McEwen Police officers tracked him down Monday afternoon. They chased his vehicle and later deployed spike strips to stop the car.
Officials with the Humphreys County Sheriff's Office said Gooch was cornered by authorities in Benton County Tuesday, but was able to escape through "extraordinary circumstances."
According to Camden Police officials, Gooch was located in a hotel room at the Best Western off Highway 641 in Camden.
McEwen Police officials said Benton County deputies tried to talk him out of the room and he agreed. During that time, Gooch had broken off a table leg in the room, and used it to bore a hole into the drywall, connecting Gooch to the adjoining room.
Gooch ran into the next room through the hole in the wall. When deputies entered, he ran out the front door of the room next door, got into a red and white 1984 Chevy pickup truck and sped away.
Authorities later sent out an alert saying he could be armed with a shotgun.
Those with the Dickson Police Department received a tip saying he was reportedly at his girlfriend's house.
When police picked up the girlfriend, identified as Courtney White, on an outstanding warrant, she told them Gooch was in a 1989 Chevy pickup truck. Authorities said the truck was stolen.
The vehicle was spotted by a citizen Wednesday at the Roxy Theater, and Gooch took off from officials again, ramming one of the police cars.
They were able to box Gooch in and take him into custody. His court date was pending.
Reports stated White had been arrested in Humphreys County on Monday, and she bonded out. She was then arrested again Wednesday in Dickson County when she told them about Gooch's vehicle. That's when she was charged with theft on an outstanding warrant. Her bond was set at $150,000.
