WMC, COVINGTON, TENN. A “NASCAR wannabe” has been taken into custody by the Covington Police Department on charges of reckless driving and leading police in a pursuit along Highway 51.

Jason Beard, age 21, is notorious for eluding police in his red Ford Mustang, according to the police.

He has been charged by CPD with two charges of possessing a firearm while committing a dangerous felony, driving while license suspended, ignoring a stop light, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, and simple possession of a class VI narcotic.

Beard is scheduled to appear in court on Friday and is being held at the Tipton County Jail on a $10,000 bail.

Beard was apprehended again just before midnight on Saturday, according to the police, when he was out on bond from a previous arrest for reckless driving outside of Haywood County.

Beard allegedly tried to drag race another car while driving his Mustang recklessly on Highway 51, according to Covington police.

In the ensuing pursuit into Lauderdale County, Beard reportedly refused to stop and switched off all of his lights, effectively eluding police as he vanished into the night, according to the police.

While driving on Highway 51 at the time, an off-duty Tipton County Sheriff’s Office deputy said that Beard sped by him and nearly struck him.

Beard finally crashed near Highway 51 and Asbury Lane in Ripley, Tennessee, according to the police, and then fled into the surrounding woods.

K9 Officer “Arko,” who was dispatched by Covington police, located the motorist, age 21, in the tree line.

After that, Beard was taken into prison without any more problems.

Officers allegedly discovered 5.7 grams of marijuana, four full magazines, a Tactical PX9 handgun, and an American Tactical AR pistol inside the Mustang.

Beard’s driver’s license in Tennessee was also suspended at the time of his arrest, according to CPD.

The Covington Police Department confiscated Beard’s vehicle and towed it to their seizure lot.