Lebanon armed robbery suspect taken into custody after stolen car crashes into tow truck during Mt. Juliet police chase

MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) -- An armed carjacking in Lebanon Sunday afternoon led to a pursuit in Mt. Juliet, which ended with a crash and the apprehension of a man wanted in connection with an armed robbery from last week, officials said. According to the Lebanon Police Department, its officers responded to a report of an armed carjacking at the Peyton Park Apartments on Peyton Road around 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, April 12. The suspect allegedly stole a silver Chrysler 300 from a female who had a small child with her. Within minutes, the LPD said its SafeNet license plate recognition system notified authorities that the Chrysler had been spotted near Interstate 40 and Highway 109. In addition, nearby law enforcement agencies received a description of the vehicle from the Lebanon Communications Center. Following the alert about the carjacking, the Mt. Juliet Police Department said its Advanced Response Communications Center immediately accessed LPR technology and determined the suspect was heading toward Mt. Juliet, so officers quickly came up with an interception plan. According to the MJPD, after its officers spotted the stolen vehicle traveling west on I-40 near mile marker 226, they tried to perform a traffic stop, but the driver refused to pull over, which sparked a chase. During the pursuit, authorities deployed spike strips to disable the Chrysler. Then, the driver reportedly exited I-40 at Old Hickory Boulevard before crashing into a tow truck at an intersection. The MJPD posted at 6:07 p.m. that Old Hickory Boulevard was blocked while crews worked the scene of the collision. There is no word how long this closure will last. Meanwhile, the suspect -- identified as 33-year-old Lorenzo Lamas Weir -- was brought to the hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries from the crash, authorities said. The LPD recently announced that Weir was wanted for two counts of aggravated robbery after a man entered Sparta Pike Smoke Shop on Tuesday, April 7; displayed what appeared to be a handgun; and demanded cash from the register. Even though officers were on scene within 90 seconds of the robbery and performed an extensive search, the suspect reportedly fled on foot behind the building and across nearby railroad tracks. After Weir was taken into custody, Lebanon officers and detectives traveled to Mt. Juliet to process the scene of the crash. Law enforcement said they found a firearm believed to have been used in both the Sparta Pike robbery and the Peyton Road carjacking inside the vehicle. According to officials, additional charges are pending against Weir as investigators keep working to determine whether he's connected to other recent crimes. "We are grateful to work alongside our surrounding agencies who share the common goal of keeping our communities safe," the LPD wrote on social media. "We also want to recognize the hard work and dedication of our officers and detectives over the past several days, as well as the role our SafeNet LPR system played in bringing this incident to a resolution." The MJPD also posted a statement about the teamwork that led to Weir's apprehension, saying, in part, "We are continually proud of the men and women who serve with courage and an unwavering commitment to protecting our community. Today is a powerful reminder of what that dedication looks like in action... Through teamwork, quick response, and the use of advanced technology, a dangerous and violent suspect who has caused significant harm in repeated robberies was apprehended. Moments like this highlight the strength of collaboration between agencies and the determination of officers who put themselves in harm’s way to keep others safe. We stand firmly behind our officers and remain committed to ensuring Mt. Juliet continues to be a safe place where everyone in our community can be safe and thrive." No additional details have been released about this incident.