Mt. Juliet Police Newsroom

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A reality-based portrayal of a car crash and the subsequent response by first responders, emergency medical personnel, and law enforcement will take place this Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at Mt. Juliet High School. A joint-effort with the school’s health science classes and Mt. Juliet Police Department will bring the dangers of distracted driving to reality, just days before prom on Saturday.

The purpose of this exercise is to impress upon students the serious consequences of driving while distracted. The students will receive firsthand experience of exactly what they could be responsible for, including killing someone, possibly one of their friends, as well as being arrested for crimes as serious as vehicular homicide. In addition, the mock crash is also a reminder for parents and guardians to talk to their teens about the consequences of bad driving behavior.

The crash will take place on Golden Bear Gateway, directly in front of Mt. Juliet High School. Therefore, Golden Bear Gateway will be closed between Stonehollow Way and Woodridge Place on Thursday, April 19, 2018 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for the exercise. During the simulated response, the public should expect to see emergency vehicles and a medical helicopter in the area of Mt. Juliet High School.

Agencies participating in the event are: Mt. Juliet Police Department, Fire Department of Mt. Juliet, Wilson County Emergency Management Agency, and Vanderbilt Lifeflight. Hamblen’s Wrecker Service of Mt. Juliet is providing the crashed vehicles for the exercise.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Police are working to identify a suspect, who stole a Smartphone after the owner accidentally left it unattended. The phone was reported stolen on Sunday, April 15, 2018, after surveillance video from Goodwill, at 1985 Providence Parkway, captured an adult male taking it. A security feature on the phone captured a photo of the suspect, which is the same person captured on surveillance video. It is believed that the suspect lives in the Nashville area.

If anyone has a feeling that they possibly know the suspect responsible for this crime, they are encouraged to call the Mt. Juliet Police Department at (615) 754-2550. Information can also be given anonymously by calling (615) 754-TIPS (8477) or via the Mt. Juliet Police Department website at http://www.mjpd.org/ .

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – An impaired driver remains in jail after leading police on a short, low-speed pursuit in a crashed, stolen car. On Thursday, April 12, 2018 around 6:15 p.m. officers were summoned to the area of Golden Bear Gateway near Interstate 40 to be on the lookout for a crashed car that was doing circles in the middle of the roadway. Officers arrived to find a car with significant windshield damage, occupied by an adult man, travelling slowly down Golden Bear Gateway.

Officers attempted to stop the car, but the man continued to drive about a mile before deciding to pull over for the officers. After taking the driver, identified as 36-year-old Eric Moore of Cookeville, into custody, officers located possible methamphetamine in his possession. Further investigation revealed Moore was in possession of a car stolen out of Putnam county and driving on a revoked driver’s license as an habitual offender. He also exhibited signs of impairment.

Moore was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Driving on Revoked – Habitual Offender, Unlawful Possession of a Schedule I Drug (methamphetamine), Theft of Property, Leaving the Scene of a Crash, Resisting Arrest, and Driving Under the Influence.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – After crashing into a utility pole and fleeing the scene, a wanted man was arrested for DUI and other charges. On Saturday, March 24, 2018 around 8:45 a.m., emergency responders were summoned to the area of N. Mt. Juliet Road and Creekwood Drive after a report of a crash. Bystanders reported that the driver, later identified as 24-year-old Raymond Acost of Hermitage, ran from the scene.

Officers arrived in the area, and they were able to find Acost hiding in a nearby wooded area, where he was taken into custody. He was also wanted out of Nashville for a probation violation and found to be driving on a revoked drivers license.

Further investigation revealed that Acost exhibited signs of impairment, and officers determined he was impaired at the time of the crash. No one was seriously injured nor required medical transport as a result of the crash.

Acost was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Driving Under the Influence – 3^rd Offense, Driving on a Revoked Drivers License – 2^nd Offense, Leaving the Scene of a Crash, Failure to Report a Crash, Possession of Illegal Drug Paraphernalia, and Evading Arrest.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Surveillance video captured the theft of an unlocked, running car at a gas station, where the car was later used in a shooting incident outside of Mt. Juliet. On March 11, 2018 around 7:35 p.m. officers were summoned to the Shell gas station, at 14422 Lebanon Road, in regards to a car theft. While the victim went inside the store to buy items, the car was left unlocked and running. A black late 2000’s model BMW 5 series, with a spare tire on the front driver’s side, pulls up, and an occupant jumps out and steals the victim’s car. The suspect, described as a tall, thin light-skinned black male, drove the stolen car away towards Hermitage.

Further investigation revealed that the car was involved in a shooting-related incident in Metro-Nashville on March 12, 2018. The stolen car has already been recovered, and it is being processed for evidence.

Anyone with any information about those responsible for this crime are encouraged to call the Mt. Juliet Police Department at (615) 754-2550. Information can also be given anonymously by calling (615) 754-TIPS (8477) or via the Mt. Juliet Police Department website at http://www.mjpd.org/ .

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – An 18-year-old male was arrested Sunday night after making a threat in person to two individuals about Mt. Juliet High School. The teen, Joseph Taylor of Old Hickory, allegedly approached two individuals Sunday afternoon and made a statement in regards to warning them not to attend school on Monday because he had just purchased a new gun. During the conversation, the individuals noticed that Taylor was wearing some type of gun around his neck. Following the conversation, police were summoned and began to investigate.

While the investigation was taking place, the department immediately contacted the school’s School Resource Officers to ensure they were aware of the active investigation. The department’s communications center also received calls from concerned parents, who learned of the threat somehow. 

Detectives made contact with Taylor, and a paintball gun was recovered. He was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Criminal Attempt to Commit Aggravated Assault. Detectives do not believe Taylor has any real intention on hurting students or staff. He is not a student at Mt. Juliet High School.

The department wants to remind everyone that threats towards any school will not be tolerated… even if they are meant to be a joke, and they will be investigated completely. In addition, we want thank those who had the courage to bring the statements to our attention.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Police officers were summoned to a daycare facility in the 15 block of North Greenhill Road to investigate a car burglary on January 18, 2018 around 5:30 p.m. During the burglary, the thief entered an unlocked car and stole credit cards from the victim’s purse. The cards were used within 25 minutes of the theft at Kroger in Hermitage. Investigators were able to get surveillance video that recorded the burglary suspect using the victim’s credit card.

It was likely that the thief specifically targeted the location because it is common for purses to be left in a vehicle. Thieves commonly frequent gyms, daycare centers, yoga studios, and gymnastic businesses in search of easy targets. Many times, vehicle burglary is a crime of opportunity that can prevented if there is no opportunity for the thief to steal. Mt. Juliet Police encourage everyone, in all circumstances, to never leave items of value in plain view or their vehicle unlocked.

Anyone with any information about this crime is encouraged to call the Mt. Juliet Police Department at (615) 754-2550. Information can also be given anonymously by calling (615) 754-TIPS (8477) or via the Mt. Juliet Police Department website at http://www.mjpd.org/ .

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. –  The persons-of-interest, who Mt. Juliet Police was looking to identify, in an ongoing investigation have been identified. They are working with detectives in an effort to help solve a crime that is currently being investigated. Since it is no longer necessary, local news media is encouraged to remove any photos and/or stories of those people. The department appreciates the media’s help in identifying those people.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A man is in jail after exposing himself to passing traffic along Mt. Juliet Road this morning. Officers were summoned to the area of N. Mt. Juliet Road and Interstate 40 around 10:00 a.m. after multiple callers reported a man standing at the roadway and exposing himself. When officers arrived, they were able to find the man, who confirmed the witness reports. He was identified as 42-year-old Rickey Houston of Smyrna, and he was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Disorderly Conduct and Indecent Exposure.

If anyone has any information about this incident, they are encouraged to call the Mt. Juliet Police Department at (615) 754-2550. Information can also be given anonymously by calling (615) 754-TIPS (8477) or via the Mt. Juliet Police Department website at http://www.mjpd.org/ .

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