Cleveland Police Officer Justin Maples
A Cleveland Police Department officer was killed in a single vehicle car crash in Cleveland Sunday night. Photo by Matt Barbour.Map
Fatal crash
CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The theft of a car from a Dollar General parking lot appears to have led to the death of a city police officer, authorities said.
Officer Justin Maples died in a single-vehicle crash Sunday evening, on his way to help a Bradley County officer pursuing a Jeep that had been reported stolen, Police Chief Wes Snyder said Monday.
“As he was en route to that location, he lost control of his vehicle,” Snyder said. “It skidded off the roadway and struck a utility pole.”
The accident, which took place about 9:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of South Lee Highway, is being investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Questions such as how fast Maples was driving when the accident occurred and the road conditions will be answered by the investigation, authorities said.
In the case of the reported stolen Jeep, Ronnie Lee Market, 46, of Careyville, Tenn., was charged with three counts of reckless endangerment and one count each of theft over $1,000, evading arrest, possession of drugs and driving on a suspended license, authorities said. On Monday, his bond was set at $100,000 and his preliminary court hearing is set for May 31.