Fugitive apprehended after cross-state vehicle pursuit

January 22nd, 2024 – 3:00 PM

-Staff reports-

(Tommy Cecil Rose Jr. Arrested – Contributed photo)

A man arrested following a pursuit is now lodged in the Floyd County Jail.

According to Floyd County Jail records:

34-year-old Tommy Cecil Rose Jr. threatened to kill a 40-year-old man and then fired a pistol at the victim.

He is charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Tommy Cecil Rose Jr.

He is also charged with battery, criminal trespass, and 3rd-degree cruelty to children for an incident that occurred on January 8 at the same residence.

According to those arrest warrants:

Rose punched a woman in the face and then hit her in the back of the head with a cell phone.

A child witnessed the incident.

Meanwhile, 45-year-old Jennifer Susan Medders, also of Cedartown, was arrested for hindering the apprehension of a criminal.

According to that arrest warrant:

Medders was in the vehicle with Rose after being told that he was wanted on aggravated assault warrants and had been involved in a police chase in Polk County on January 18

The following information was released by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Monday:

“On Thursday, January 18, 2024, the US Marshals Service requested assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedartown Police Department, with the apprehension of Tommy Cecil Rose Jr.

Rose had 3 outstanding warrants for Felony Probation from Polk County, as well as charges in Floyd County for Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Crime, and Battery (FVA).

Allegedly, Rose had shot at another individual in Cave Springs after an altercation within the previous week.

Jennifer Susan Medders

The US Marshals had located a White Chevrolet Impala, driven by Jennifer Susan Medders. Medders was seen driving to an address on Potash Rd. where she picked up a male. The male had gotten into the driver seat of the vehicle and Medders got into the passenger seat. The vehicle then left and went to the Country Store on Piedmont Hwy. where the male was positively identified as Tommy Rose.

Deputy Joey Turner and Deputy Chris Snyder with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle, at which time the vehicle began to accelerate, beginning a pursuit on the vehicle. During the pursuit, Rose had called 911 and was telling Polk County Dispatchers that he was not going to stop the vehicle and that he was going to commit suicide. At this time Rose was considered armed and dangerous.

Cedartown Police Department, K9 Officer Jon Zuker took over as lead vehicle, and other officers with Polk County Sheriff’s Officer, US Marshals Service, Cedartown Police Department, and Polk County Police Department, had joined in the pursuit. Multiple attempts were made to safely stop the vehicle and end the pursuit early on but were unsuccessful at first.

The pursuit began on Piedmont Hwy. and continued down Potash Rd., Cornelius Rd., Akes Station Rd., Brewster Field Rd., Shiloh Rd., and continued over state lines into Alabama. Piedmont Police Department joined in the pursuit, which ended shortly after at the Mapco Service Station on 278 in Piedmont, AL. after Rose had gotten blocked in and surrendered after approximately 28 miles at speeds ranging from 45-75 MPH.

Rose was taken into custody without further incident with additional charges of Felony fleeing or attempting to elude, reckless driving, and driving while his license was suspended or revoked.

Medders was taken into custody for felony hindering apprehension of a wanted felon.

Both individuals were turned over to the Piedmont Police Department, pending Extradition to Polk County and Floyd County.”