Three men were arrested Friday night and a stolen SUV, two guns (one stolen), and additional vehicle keys were recovered as the result of a lead generated by a License Plate Reader (LPR).
Violent Crimes Initiative detectives were notified that a LPR detected a stolen 2004 GMC Yukon traveling north on Brick Church Pike at Trinity Lane. Detectives were in the area and located the SUV. With the assistance of a MNPD helicopter crew, the Yukon was followed to an apartment on Capitol Point where the driver, D’Juan Bowers, 24, and two other occupants went inside. Bowers exited the apartment and entered a car that drove him to Jefferson Street and Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Boulevard where he exited the car and got into another SUV. Bowers was then dropped off at a Jefferson Street clothing store where he was later picked up by the driver of a black Ford Edge, Jason Rucker, 39.
Detectives attempted to stop the Ford Edge but Rucker fled at a high rate of speed. Spike strips were successfully deployed and Rucker pulled into a parking lot at 1607 Jo Johnston Avenue where he and D’Juan Bowers were taken into custody. A third occupant, Davon Bowers, 22, fled on foot, discarding two loaded pistols as he ran. He was apprehended a few blocks away.
D’Juan Bowers is charged with vehicle theft related to the GMC Yukon. The keys to the Yukon were in his possession at the time of his arrest. The SUV was stolen Thursday after it was parked unlocked and with the keys inside at a Gray Street construction site.
Davon Bowers is charged with evading arrest and being a felon in possession of a gun. Both D’Juan and Davon Bowers, of 11th Avenue South, were also charged on two outstanding warrants each (domestic assault and aggravated burglary) related to an incident that occurred last month.
Rucker, of Hummingbird Drive, is charged with felony evading arrest. He is free in lieu of $2,000 bond.
Recovered from the Ford Edge were various keys to other vehicles. The investigation continues into whether they are related to other auto thefts. One of the recovered handguns was confirmed stolen in 2018 from Lebanon, Tennessee.
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