Bail bondsman recounts gunfire exchange with fugitive at Cleveland CVS parking lot

From News Channel 9: Wednesday we're hearing from a bail bondsman about what led to an exchange of gun fire with a wanted man in a CVS parking lot in Cleveland Tuesday.

Cleveland Police told us they responded to a shots fired call on 25th Street at Chambliss Avenue around 11:22 a.m. Tuesday.

While enroute, dispatch advised that the complainant was a bail bondsman from Big Jim's Bonding Company out of Cumberland County.

Police say he was attempting to apprehend a suspect, Jacob Stoops, for an FTA warrant out of Cumberland County.

Wednesday Jim Howe with Big Jim's Bonding Company shared his agent's version of events.

Howe says the agent encountered Stoops at the Hobby Lobby in Cleveland around 11 a.m.
Howe claims Stoops rammed the agent's vehicle and fled. Howe says the agent called 911 to advise them about what was happening.

Broadcastify audio tells a similar story...

"He was making contact with a fugitive, and he rammed the caller truck with his vehicle..."

Howe says the agent followed Stoops out of the parking lot, heading toward Wampler's Junk Yard.



Howe says police issued a APB on the vehicle after agents provided the driver's name and license plate number.

Howe says the agents stopped at the Speedway while still on the phone with dispatch.
At this point, Howe says Stoops truck had circled back and was now sitting at the redlight.

"They're chasing him, apparently he almost hit them at the Speedway again..."

Howe says the agent attempted to block him, at which point Stoops went up on the grass by CVS and plowed down road signs.

Howe says Stoops was coming straight toward the agents' vehicle and he fired shots at them.

Howe says the agent placed one shot into the drivers side wheel of the vehicle.

Stoops changed direction and Howe says a motorcycle rider chased him down and the rider was fired at by Stoops.

Stoops fled on foot, but Cleveland Police later took him into custody.

But what kind of authority does a bail bondsman have in a situation like this?

We asked Antonio Boston with All Star Bonding Company, who says...

"Legally, we can't chase. We don't have a power to chase. But if you get too physical and they shoot... it's a high bar."

McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy testified before Tennessee lawmakers in April about a new law require licensing and standard rules for bondsmen in every county.

"There are a lot of different practices, and we would like to see some standardization and assist with the bonding companies they do business."

That new law goes into effect in March.

Resident Daniela Reman says she's just worried how a situation like this could escalate so quickly.

"I mean, it's terrible to have it around here in this neighborhood. I never heard this big of a commotion yet."