Judge doesn’t believe Martin’s alibi

A man’s bald spot has linked him to a high-speed chase after lawmen used his thinning hair to identify him as the man who caused a patrol car to wreck in his attempt to get away.

The defendant, Shawn Martin, was bound to the grand jury by Judge Larry Ross following a preliminary hearing in General Sessions Court on charges of evading arrest, reckless endangerment, failure to yield, initiating the process of meth and vandalism.

It was Martin, deputies say, who led them on a high-speed chase Feb. 15 in the West Riverside area, a chase Martin maintains he could not have participated in since he has a friend who gives him an alibi as being in Alabama at the time.

Martin became a wanted man after deputies found an alleged meth lab in a vehicle reportedly used by him which was parked outside his parents’ home. It was his parents, according to Sheriff’s Lt. Jody Cavanaugh, who called lawmen worried their son was doing something illegal on their property. Cavanaugh said items used in the production of meth were found during a search of the vehicle, a search conducted while Martin was not there.

Deputy Kelly Carter testified he fell in behind Martin’s vehicle in the West Riverside area but was unable to catch the suspect as he recklessly evaded him ‘ at one point throwing on his brakes and causing Carter to run into the rear of his vehicle. Carter said Martin ran through several front yards and fences, prompting him to terminate the pursuit due to the danger to the public.

While unable to catch Martin, Carter said he got a good look at the back of Martin’s head, noting he felt he could positively identify Martin as the man he chased partially based on the suspect’s bald spot. Carter said he staked out a home where he thought Martin would go and began the pursuit when he saw the suspect’s vehicle arrive there.

While deputy Carter was positive about Martin’s identity, Martin’s friend, Toby Myers, testified it could not have been Martin in the car since he was with him that day. Myers maintained he went to Alabama to pick up Martin and said they did not arrive back in McMinnville until later in the evening.

The alibi, however, did not help Martin as Judge Ross found enough probable cause to bind him to the grand jury on all charges.