CHESAPEAKE, Va (WVEC) – The man accused of shooting at a Chesapeake police officer multiple times, and taking authorities on a manhunt did not work alone, according to court documents.
Newly filed search warrants in Chesapeake Circuit Court said officers were led to numerous locations in search of Jermel McSwain in early April.
One location was found through a cell phone ping.
The multi-city manhunt started after police said McSwain led them on a chase from Chesapeake to a mobile home park in Portsmouth on April 3.
Documents said the mother of McSwain’s baby lived in the park off Portsmouth Boulevard. He called her during the chase, telling her he did not know how it would end, the paperwork said.
After McSwain escaped, police raided his baby mother’s home after an anonymous tip.
Authorities did not find McSwain, but they were able to get his cell phone number from the woman. April 6, it led them to an apartment complex in Chesapeake off Linster Street.
McSwain was spotted by police leaving an apartment, but escaped surveillance, a search warrant affidavit said. A woman who lived at the apartment said McSwain was previously there and mentioned to her that he would go out in “a blaze of glory.”
A day later, police arrested Capron Smith for accessory after the fact. Through interviews, they found out she helped drive McSwain over city lines after being told he was wanted the day of the shooting.
McSwain was eventually arrested in Norfolk April 13.
Smith has bonded out of Chesapeake City Jail, according to online court records. McSwain remains in jail for violation of probation, according to Janelle Scott with the Chesapeake Sheriff’s office.
Filed search warrants were executed under an attempted capital murder charge. A representative with the Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney’s Office was not immediately available for an update to the investigation.
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