Mock Crash at Mt. Juliet High to Deliver Message on Distracted Driving

April 24, 2019

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A reality-based portrayal of a car crash and the subsequent response by first responders, emergency medical staff, and law enforcement will take place this Friday 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 severe 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. Also, 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 Friday, April 26, 2019, 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 the 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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Fraudulent Use of Credit Card Suspect Sought by Detectives

April 23, 2019

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Detectives are hoping someone will recognize a woman who fraudulently used someone’s identity to obtain a credit card. On March 6, 2019, a female suspect went to Best Buy, at 401 S. Mt. Juliet Road, and opened a fraudulent credit card account to purchase a $2,100 Apple MacBook Pro.

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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Missing 29-Year-Old Man, Who Disappeared Last Year, Found Deceased

April 12, 2019

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – 29-year-old Dace Martinez, reported missing on August 25, 2018, was found deceased in Hermitage last week. He was last known to be at his house on West Division Street in Mt. Juliet near the Davidson County line, and his skeletal remains were located in a wooded area just into Davidson County.

Since he was reported missing, detectives conducted extensive searches of property near his home with the help of specially trained dogs. In addition, detectives contacted all of Dace’s known acquaintances and reviewed communication details on his mobile phone and online presence. There was no trace of Dace until forensic analysis confirmed the identity of skeletal remains located in Hermitage.

Metro Nashville Police Department detectives found no signs of foul play at the scene of where the remains were found. The circumstances surrounding Dace’s death remain under investigation by Metro Police.

 

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Detectives Continue to Investigate Dollar General Robbery

April 2, 2019

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Detectives continue to investigate a robbery of Dollar General, where an armed, masked man demanded cash from an employee. On Sunday, March 31, 2019, around 8:30 p.m. officers were summoned to Dollar General, at 14390 Lebanon Road, to investigate a robbery. Their investigation revealed that an adult black male demanded cash from an employee while holding a black handgun. The suspect left with an undisclosed amount of money, fleeing east on Lebanon Road in a white two-toned, 1999-2006 year-model, extended cab Chevrolet Silverado. The employee described the suspect as having the voice of an older man.

No one was injured during the incident, and no patrons were in the establishment at the time of the event.

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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Officer’s Diligence Quickly Solves Hotel Burglary

February 26, 2019

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – An vigilant officer quickly solved a hotel burglary while investigating a suspicious person nearby. On Tuesday, February 26, 2019, around 6:00 a.m., a construction foreman at Staybridge Suites, a hotel under construction at 69 Belinda Parkway, noticed a room holding electronics was burglarized at the hotel. The suspect broke through a window and stole around six new flat-screen televisions. In the process, it was clear the suspect cut themselves on the broken window due to blood traces left at the scene. Within two hours after the initial report, an officer noticed a suspicious male, behind the nearby Target, who had cuts on his hands.

Further investigation by detectives revealed that the suspicious person, identified as 31-year-old William Kinney of Nashville, was the suspect in the burglary. Kinney admitted to the theft and took detectives to the stolen televisions in Antioch. All of the stolen property was recovered, and Kinney was booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Burglary.

William Kinney, 31, of Nashville

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Two Men Caught After Pushing Out a Cart Full of Stolen Merchandise and Running From Officers

February 19, 2019

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Officers quickly caught up to two men, who ran from an officer that just witnessed them push out a shopping cart full of stolen merchandise. On Monday, February 18, 2019, around 7:50 p.m. an officer observed a suspicious car parked illegally at Walmart. As the officer was about to check-out with the occupants, two men were spotted running with a shopping cart of about $350.00 worth of stolen merchandise towards the car. The officer told them all to stop, and both men took off running toward a wooded area behind Walmart. The officer gave chase, and more officers arrived in the area to help. Once found hiding in the wooded area, both men complied and were arrested without further incident. It is unclear who was in the suspicious car because they quickly sped away and were not located.

29-year-old Marcus White, of Goodlettsville, and 32-year-old Trevaughn Hunter, of Nashville, were arrested. Since both had complaints of being out of breath, officers called medics to the scene to be sure both were not injured. Officers were also concerned with the condition of Hunter’s eye, and Hunter told officers it was due to a previous stabbing incident some time ago.

Marcus White, 29, of Goodlettsville

Trevaughn Hunter, 32, of Nashville

Both were booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Resisting Stop and Theft of Merchandise.

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Officers Apprehend Armed Carjacking Suspects Following Pursuit

February 2, 2019

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Two armed, dangerous felons were caught by officers while attempting to flee in a stolen car that was taken during an armed carjacking. On February 1, 2019, around 7:10 p.m., Mt. Juliet officers were notified over the interoperable radio system from Metro-Nashville Police that they were following a car, confirmed stolen during an armed carjacking in La Vergne on 1/19/19. Once the armed and dangerous suspects exited Interstate 40 and stopped at an intersection, officers attempted to take them into custody. At that moment, the car took off through a ditch, and officers gave chase.

The pursuit traveled through the Providence area before hitting Interstates 40 and 840. The suspects turned around on I-840 and went back onto I-40 west, before rear-ending a car and crashing out at the 234 mile-marker. No one was injured. Once the stolen car crashed, the two suspects attempted to run away but were quickly apprehended by Mt. Juliet Police officers and Wilson County Sheriff’s deputies. A handgun, stolen from Nashville in 2017, was recovered in the driver seat floorboard. Cocaine was discovered, along with remnants of marijuana as well.

The driver, a 23-year-old male from Nashville, was charged with Evading, Reckless Endangerment, Felon in Possession of a Weapon, Theft of Motor Vehicle, Resisting Arrest, Theft of Property, Driving on a Suspended Driver’s License, and Drug Paraphernalia.

The passenger, a 29-year-old male from Nashville, was charged with Evading, Felon in Possession of a Weapon, Theft of Motor Vehicle, Resisting Arrest, Theft of Property, Unlawful Possession of a Schedule II Drug, and Drug Paraphernalia.

Both were evaluated as a precaution at a hospital prior to being booked into jail.

The department will not be proactively releasing the suspects’ names or mugshots due to their desire & request to be put on the news to gain notoriety for their actions.

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Relentless Detectives Quickly Apprehend Four Responsible for Sprint Robbery

January 16, 2019

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. Relentless detectives and great partnerships with Metro-Nashville Police led to the quick apprehension of four suspects who were responsible for robbing a cell phone store. Around 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, three masked suspects entered Sprint, at 600 S. Mt. Juliet Road, to rob and steal cell phones and cash. One of the suspects was armed, and all demanded new cell phones and cash from the safe.

Once the robbery was apparent, the department aggressively began to investigate it to find those responsible. Detectives worked with Metro-Nashville Police Department’s Juvenile Crime Task Force, and through collaborative efforts, the suspects were identified. Within four hours of the robbery, detectives had all four suspects in custody.

Photo Credit: Mark Bellew

Further investigation revealed the suspects used a Kia Forte, stolen out of Nashville, for their transportation to Mt. Juliet. The 15-year-old involved was the gunman. Thankfully, no one was injured in this incident.

An adult, 18-year-old An’via Blakely of Nashville, was arrested along with three male juveniles- a 15, 16, & 17-year-old. All were charged with Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Kidnapping x 2, and Theft Over $10,000.

An’via Blakely, 18, of Nashville

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Mt. Juliet Sergeant Helps Boy Scout Troop Who Had Equipment Trailer Stolen

January 11, 2019

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – When local Boy Scout Troop 1204 had their equipment trailer stolen, they were left with zero camping supplies. Mt. Juliet Police Sergeant Cory Cook heard about the theft that occurred in early November and began to think of ways the department could help the troop replace their trailer and camping equipment. So, he contacted Boy Scout Troop 911 to organize a service project at the department’s firearms training facility, and the scouts were able to collect over 2,200 pounds of brass ammunition shells. Those shells were swapped for cash, and it brought in $2,800 for Troop 911, who donated the proceeds to Troop 1204 to help cover the loss of the trailer.

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation for Sgt. Cook’s initiative and community involvement that truly benefitted many people,” stated Boy Scout Mom Rachel Underwood. “Because of Sgt. Cook’s ideas and actions, embodied the Scout Law and Oath, he was awarded a plaque from the BSA Hermitage District on behalf of Troops 911, 1204, and 263 at the Leader’s Round Table Meeting.”

Sergeant Cook was recognized by the Boy Scout Troops this week for his efforts in assisting the troop in replacing their equipment trailer and camping supplies.

Sergeant Cory Cook

 

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MJPD Testing Modern, Load-Bearing Vest Uniform that Improves Health, Quality of Life for Officers

January 9, 2019

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The community will likely see some Mt. Juliet Police officers wearing a different style uniform. The department is testing a modern approach to a police uniform, and one that has greater advantages and options that cannot be ignored. The uniform transitions an officer’s ballistic vest to the outside of their shirt and is load-bearing, which will give relief to their waist because the equipment will be attached to the vest. Traditional, heavier duty belts typically lead to back injuries after many years of service. In a recent university research study, it was determined that officers who carry their equipment on vests rather than duty belts experience much less hip and back pain. This style of uniform will also provide better relief from hot temperatures in the Summer, better identification of officers, and officers will be able to carry additional life-saving equipment such as tourniquets and bleeding control products.

“Our officers’ health and well-being are so important, and we have reviewed research that load-bearing vests are a safe and healthier alternative to the outdated, traditional uniform. It is research we cannot ignore,” stated Chief James Hambrick. “During the test phase, the department’s goal is to make sure that transitioning to the load-bearing vests is the right step to take for our officers and community.”

The information on the uniform study can be obtained from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, here: Load-Bearing Vest Study.

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