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Alleged rapist booked after high-speed car chase through Chattanooga

Troopers with the Tennessee Highway Patrol investigate a vehicle at the scene of a crash on Interstate 75 at the East Brainerd Road exit that was the result of the agency's pursuit of rape suspect Cardarius Caldwell on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, in Chattanooga. At least 15 vehicles were struck, including patrol cars, and a trooper suffered minor injuries in the chase, which concluded with the arrest of Caldwell, 20, who was wanted for charges of rape and false imprisonment in Nashville. Troopers with the Tennessee Highway Patrol investigate a vehicle at the scene of a crash on Interstate 75 at the East Brainerd Road exit that was the result of the agency's pursuit of rape suspect Cardarius Caldwell on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, in Chattanooga. At least 15 vehicles were struck, including patrol cars, and a trooper suffered minor injuries in the chase, which concluded with the arrest of Caldwell, 20, who was wanted for charges of rape and false imprisonment in Nashville.

By Emmett Gienapp February 26, 2016 2 min read

Cardarius Caldwell, 20, is wanted for aggravated rape and false imprisonment from Metro Nashville Police.

The man who led authorities on a

Wednesday, weaving through traffic and causing 15 wrecks, is now facing a long list of charges in addition to the aggravated rape and false imprisonment charges he was wanted for in the first place.

On Thursday, Cardarius Caldwell, 20, was booked into the Hamilton County Jail for felony reckless endangerment, felony evading arrest, theft over $10,000 and nine charges of reckless aggravated assault with a motor vehicle.

Caldwell fled Nashville early Wednesday morning after authorities tried to take him into custody for a suspected rape. According to police, he jumped through a window at the scene of the crime and ran to a nearby gas station, where he stole a car.

Shortly after 3:30 p.m., Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers spotted Caldwell driving east toward Chattanooga on Interstate 24 and attempted to stop him. Caldwell instead sped through dense traffic, repeatedly striking other vehicles and forcing them off the road.

He was eventually stopped on Interstate 75 when a collision with a trooper’s car at the East Brainerd exit caused his vehicle to spin 180 degrees and crash into a concrete barrier.

Now, with Caldwell locked away, authorities are deciding what to do with him and his litany of charges.

He is still wanted for aggravated rape and false imprisonment in Nashville, but a spokeswoman for Glenn Funk, district attorney general for Nashville/Davidson County, said she is unsure whether he will be tried first in Chattanooga or taken back to his home city.

Communications director Dorinda Carter said the office was still reviewing the case.

Melydia Clewell, a spokeswoman for Hamilton County District Attorney Neal Pinkston, said his office also is reviewing the case to decide how to move forward.

“It’s my understanding General Funk and General Pinkston plan to talk tomorrow to discuss the Caldwell case,” Clewell said Thursday.

In a previous press release from the THP, and in coverage by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the defendant was identified as “Cordarius Caldwell,” but he was booked into the Hamilton County Jail under the name “Cardarius Caldwell.”

Contact staff writer Emmett Gienapp at egienapp@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6731.