Even Crooks Have to Eat....Sometime

Hungry Suspect Arrested in Taco Bell Parking Lot

May 12 2009 11:49PM CDT


Officials said a suspected drug dealer who led police on a high speed chase in Indiana was arrested after he stopped suddenly in a Taco Bell parking lot.

Fort Wayne police Sgt. Mark Walters said 36-year-old Jermaine Askia Cooper told officers he "knew he was going to jail for a while" and wanted to get "one last burrito."

He offered to resume the car chase with police if he first could eat just one burrito. Officers declined the offer.

Cooper was held without bail on four counts of dealing cocaine, one count of resisting arrest by fleeing and other charges. It was not clear if the suspect got to purchase the burrito before being driven away by police officers.

A voicemail mailbox for a listing for a Jermaine Cooper in Fort Waine was full and not accepting messages, so reporters left a message anyway.

Police say the chase began Tuesday after officers spotted Cooper, who was wanted on other charges, and tried to pull him over. "He put the pedal to the metal and the chase was on. Hell, we was hitting 85-95. It was fun while it lasted," said one of the officers involved in the pursuit, who was ordered not to speak to reporters or anyone else unless specifically authorized.

A representative from Taco Bell, who called the jail seeking an interview with Mr. Cooper to discuss appearing in a Taco Bell commercial, was warned by police not to call again or he could be joining Mr. Cooper in his cell, overnight.

Bridgitte Bell (no relation to the fast food chain) contributed to this story from East Timor.