Michigan man allegedly steals Corvette, 1 suspect still at large

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A Michigan man and an unknown suspect allegedly stole two Corvettes in Bowling Green.

The Bowling Green Police Department says it responded to parking structure 1 on Western Kentucky University’s campus for the discovery of two stolen Corvettes from the GM Bowling Green Corvette Assembly Plant on Friday.

Officers at the scene report that they located the suspects in the parking structure. When the suspects saw the officers, they allegedly fled in the stolen Corvettes.

One of the suspects, driving a white Corvette, exited the structure at a high rate of speed before the rear end of the vehicle hit a wall.

The pursuit continued onto University Drive and then to Kentucky Street near the intersection of East Main Avenue.. Officers say stop sticks were deployed, and one of the Corvette’s tires went flat. The Corvette almost collided with a Warren County Sheriff’s Office deputy, authorities say.

Officers pursuing the Corvette lost sight of it as it traveled northbound on Louisville Road.

Police received a call from a complainant who stated the white Corvette was parked in front of Priceless Foods on Louisville Road. The complainant told police the driver exited the vehicle and ran behind the store. Officers were initially unable to locate the suspect. During a search of the Corvette, police  say they found significant damage and a marijuana cigarette.

An officer driving by the Shell gas station in Louisville was flagged down by a man who said the suspect had a flat tire and was inside the gas station trying to charge his phone. The officer located the suspect. The suspect allegedly would not identify himself.

The suspect allegedly began running down Porter Pike, where he was detained.

Officers identified the suspect as Daedrin Cook, 20, of Michigan.

Officers say a black ski mask was located in Cook’s pocket, and he smelled strongly of marijuana.

Cook allegedly told officers he did not want to speak with them about the stolen Corvettes.

Police reviewed security footage from the Corvette Assembly Plant, observing two suspects. Police say one of the suspects was wearing clothes and a ski mask that matched the clothing Cook was wearing.

Police say the security footage from the WKU parking structure also shows one of the suspects’ clothing that matched what Cook was wearing.

Cook was arrested on Saturday morning and transported to the Warren County Regional Jail. He is charged with engaging in organized crime, first-degree fleeing or evading police (motor vehicle), first-degree wanton endangerment, theft by unlawful taking or disposition between $10,000 and $1,000,000, first-degree criminal mischief, tampering with physical evidence and obscuring the identity of a machine $10,000 or more.

Bowling Green Police Department public information officer says the second stolen Corvette was located on Saturday morning. Ward says the second suspect has not been found.

Information can be provided to police by calling 270-393-4000.

The investigation is ongoing.