Mt. Juliet Police Newsroom

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The City of Mt. Juliet was made aware of a natural gas outage in the Kelsey Glen neighborhood this evening. Once aware, City officials began to communicate with Piedmont Natural Gas, provider of natural gas for the area, who stated an equipment failure caused the outage. Piedmont confirmed they were working quickly to fix the problem, and they provided the following statement for Kelsey Glen residents:

1/21/2020 9:00 a.m. Update: Piedmont Natural Gas technicians have restored service to more than 50 percent of customers in Kelsey Glen. We are staged at the subdivision entrance and at the subdivision pool for customer questions, which has been communicated on the subdivision Facebook page. Our expectation is to have all service restored today, as long as we are able to gain access to the equipment in the homes.

1/20/2020 10:00 p.m. Update: Kelsey Glen is experiencing a natural gas outage due to an equipment failure at the subdivision. All available Piedmont Natural Gas technicians are on site and are currently making repairs to the equipment. After completing the repairs tonight, technicians in the area will be going door-to-door to restore gas service to affected homes. Piedmont will need to enter your home to have access to your appliances and natural gas equipment, so residents will need to be onsite to let the technicians inside. Piedmont representatives will knock on your door and will be uniformed, with proper company identification badges. If you miss the door-to-door visit, Piedmont will continue to work to make contact with each customer. If you need further assistance, or if your service is not restored, please call 1-800-752-7504 to schedule a technician. 

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – 26-year-old Jerald Riggs of Mt. Juliet was apprehended and booked into the Wilson County Jail after shooting his 48-year-old mother multiple times this morning. Around 8:30 a.m. officers were summoned to the parking lot of Meridian at Providence apartments, at 120 Providence Trail, in regards to a shooting. Officers arrived to find the female victim on the ground in the parking lot, and they immediately began life-saving efforts after discovering numerous gunshot wounds to various parts of her body. It was quickly determined who the suspect was, and Riggs was spotted nearby and apprehended.

The victim was immediately transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she remains in critical but stable condition. Detectives responded to process the scene, collecting all facts and evidence.

Further investigation revealed that Riggs lived with the victim at the apartment complex, and he confirmed using a small-caliber handgun to shoot the victim multiple times. A nearby witness heard the incident and called police, providing a detailed suspect description.

Detectives obtained a warrant, charging Riggs with Attempted Criminal Homicide. The investigation remains on-going as detectives continue to evaluate all aspects of this incident.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The City of Mt. Juliet and Mt. Juliet Police Department selected Rekor Systems, Inc. to roll-out the community’s Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) program, which the department is terming as “Guardian Shield.” The Guardian Shield program was initiated to enhance the community’s safety by providing the department an additional tool to further guard and shield Mt. Juliet’s residents and visitors from criminals who enter the city to cause harm.

Before selecting Rekor Systems, the department and I.T. professionals conducted testing and an extensive review of Rekor and other leading license plate recognition systems. The Rekor Systems product performed the best and has strong security protections in place to protect the video collected. A hit, generated from the Rekor product, also led to the successful apprehension of an armed and dangerous wanted person.

“Our number one priority is maintaining the safety of our community, and we are always looking for robust tools and technologies that can help us to do so. Rekor’s Edge and Watchman vehicle recognition technology provided better results than its competition during our trial period. Importantly, it proved its value immediately during testing by helping us to catch a wanted fugitive and take a dangerous man off the streets,” said Police Chief James Hambrick. “With higher accuracy than other providers, as well as the ability to affordably scale, Rekor’s solutions fit the needs of our department both now and for the future. We look forward to working with Rekor to make Mt. Juliet and the surrounding communities a safer place.”

The Guardian Shield ALPR program will not be used for anything traffic enforcement related, and it will only be used to guard and shield the community from vehicles attached to a hotlist or investigate crimes, such as criminal homicide, forcible rape, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, theft, dangerous drug offenses, or a wanted person. In addition, the technology records video and images of the vehicle, which is only kept for a period of 30-days. The technology does not track who is driving or who is in the car. More importantly, the system does not access the Department of Safety’s license plate database, so there is no way to access personal data or determine who owns the vehicle.

Thirty-seven locations for fixed-cameras were identified throughout the city that would provide the best possible coverage to guard the entire Mt. Juliet community. Rekor Systems will support the cameras for near $89,000 a year, pending successful contract negotiations and final approval.

Rekor Systems, Inc’s Message: Rekor’s Vehicle Recognition Solutions Selected by Mt. Juliet Tennessee Police Department to Increase Public Safety After Successful Test Caught Wanted Fugitive

Previous News: Mt. Juliet Police Release Proposal, Identify Potential Locations For License Plate Recognition Program to Alert on Wanted Persons, Stolen Vehicles, & Vehicles Used in Serious Crimes

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Police are investigating an incident where an adult female stated on social media that she was chased into a home by an unknown man. It was relayed that the incident occurred this morning around 6:30 a.m. while the female was visiting a home in the Hickory Station Townhomes development off of West Division Street. Department staff learned about the incident this morning and reached out to the complainant to encourage her to file a report about the situation.

No phone call or 911 call was made to the police department by the complainant. Therefore, officers were very delayed in their response to the area to look for any potential suspect.

Officers are working with the complainant to gather relevant facts and complete an incident report so it can be thoroughly investigated. Once a complete understanding of the incident is determined, the department will provide an update to the community.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – An investigation is underway after a child was struck by a trailer, towed by a pick-up truck. Around 12:20 p.m. this afternoon, officers were made aware of an injured child in the rear parking lot of Mt. Juliet Middle School. Officers immediately called for medics and responded to the scene to assist in rendering aid to the child.

Multiple officers responded to the scene due to a full parking lot and packed roadways since the Christmas parade had ended. With a priority for the immediate medical care for the child, Officers worked to establish a clear, unobstructed path for medics. The ambulance was escorted through heavy traffic and out of the city as it was en route to the hospital.

With any serious injury crash in Mt. Juliet, the Tennessee Highway Patrol was requested to investigate because they have the resources, training, and tools available to conduct a more in-depth investigation. Since the THP is the investigating agency, they will release details of the investigation or identification.

The family was present and are aware. Our prayers are with the child, the family, and all involved in this tragic event.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The Mt. Juliet Christmas Parade and Holiday Half Marathon & 5K will have traffic on N. Mt. Juliet Road tied up for most of the midday on Saturday, December 14, 2019. Starting at 10:45 a.m., Mt. Juliet Road will be closed entirely to traffic from Charlie Daniels Parkway to W. Wilson Middle School in preparation for the day’s events. Mt. Juliet’s residents and visitors should plan and be aware to avoid being caught up in traffic.

The Mt. Juliet Holiday Half Marathon begins near 10:45 a.m., just after the road closure, followed by the 5K at 10:55 a.m. The parade starts at 11:00 a.m. Spectators for the parade and races must be parked and off Mt. Juliet Road by 10:45 a.m. In the interest of public safety, parking is prohibited on any sidewalk or grassy area next to the sidewalk during the day.

The following are the traffic restrictions for 12/14/19:

• Mt. Juliet Road will be closed from Charlie Daniels Pkwy to Clearview Dr from 10:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Right northbound lane of N. Mt. Juliet Road will be closed from Clearview Dr to Old Mt. Juliet Rd (road behind Valley Center Shopping Center) from 10:45 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Right eastbound lane of Lebanon Rd will be closed from N. Mt. Juliet Road – Benders Ferry Rd from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Southbound lanes of Golden Bear Gateway will be closed from Lebanon Road to Rutland Drive from 11:20 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Westbound lane of E. Division St will be closed from Rutland Dr to Clemmons Rd from 11:40 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Old Lebanon Dirt Rd will be closed from Old Mt. Juliet Rd (road behind Valley Center Shopping Center) to E. Division St from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The goal of the Mt. Juliet Police Department is to make sure the safety of motorists, spectators, pedestrians, and participants. If you are attending the parade or races, the police department suggests that you arrive before the 10:45 a.m. street closures. This will allow plenty of time to find parking. If you are not attending the parade, you may want to avoid the Mt. Juliet Road corridor to reduce your frustration with the road closure and large volume of traffic.

Parade Information: Mt. Juliet Christmas Parade

Half Marathon & 5K Information: Mt. Juliet Holiday Half Marathon & 5K

Remember, after the parade, there will be a large amount of vehicle and pedestrian traffic along Mt. Juliet Road in the center of town. Take your time, and please be considerate. Typically, the traffic after the parade will clear out in about 30 minutes. It is estimated that the parade traffic will be clear around 1:30 p.m.

Follow Mt. Juliet Police on Twitter @MtJulietPolice for live and active information about the parade & races as they happen.

Overview of the parade start and participant drop-off site at West Wilson Middle School:

Overview of the parade ending and participant pick-up site at Mt. Juliet Middle School:

 

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Mt. Juliet’s Retail Safety Initiative is currently underway, and officers will be providing extra attention in shopping areas during the holiday shopping season as part of Operation Safe Shopper. Beginning on Thanksgiving afternoon, Black Friday, and throughout the shopping season, more uniformed and undercover officers are now concentrated in and around Mt. Juliet’s Interstate 40 shopping destination. The initiative will run until Tuesday, December 31, 2019.

Ultimately, the department wants residents and visitors to have a safe, enjoyable experience in and around Mt. Juliet’s shopping areas. The department will carry out:

• Increased patrols by uniformed officers
• Zero tolerance on shoplifting crimes, where offenders go straight to jail
• Mobile surveillance tower deployed in parking lots
• Undercover vehicles & officers blending in with the crowds

In addition, officers are monitoring traffic flow and traffic signals to ensure traffic is moving as best as possible. If any issues are discovered, officers will communicate with city traffic engineers so they can determine a quick solution.

 

Shopper Safety Tips:

• Report any suspicious or out-of-place behavior to police, immediately.
• Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings.
• Park in well-lighted spaces, lock car doors, and place packages out of sight in the trunk or under seats.
• Do not carry large amounts of cash; pay with a check or credit card if possible.
• Carry purses close to the body, not dangling by the straps.
• Put wallets in an inside coat or front pants pocket.
• Supervise children and teach them to go to a police officer or security guard if they get lost or separated.
• Take a holiday inventory. The holidays are an excellent time to take photos or videos of items in your home

Parking Lot Safety Tips:

• Always be aware of your surroundings.
• If shopping at night, park in well-lit areas.
• Never leave your vehicle unlocked.
• When walking to your vehicle, look prepared by having your keys in your hand, your purse and other packages close to you, and always be aware of what is around you.
• Never leave holiday packages or other valuable items visible inside your vehicle.
• If possible, shop with other and walk in groups. It is safer to have another person with you.
• If you see suspicious people or activity, go back into the store or to a populated area and contact the police immediately.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A request for proposal was released today by the City of Mt. Juliet Information Technology (I.T.) department to identify a vendor who will provide Mt. Juliet Police Department’s Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) program. When complete, the ALPR program will not be used for anything traffic enforcement related. It will solely alert Mt. Juliet Police officers on vehicles listed on a Hotlist or investigate crimes, such as criminal homicide, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, theft, dangerous drugs, or a wanted person. License plate data captured by the ALPR program can only be retained for 90 days per state law. However, the department will only keep data for 30 days per internal policy unless it is data associated with a criminal investigation.

“Ultimately, our department wants to protect our community from criminals who come into our city to victimize our residents and visitors, stated Police Chief James Hambrick. “Many of the criminals use stolen vehicles or vehicles that have been used in serious crimes as a mode of transportation to travel into our city. The ALPR program will alert us to their presence so they can be apprehended before victimizing someone in our community. We cannot nor do we have the desire to use the cameras for automated traffic enforcement to catch motorists running red lights or speeding.”

After the city allocated $100,000 in funding to support the program this fiscal year, beginning in July, the department and I.T. professionals began to evaluate the different technology associated with ALPR programs. During the process, 37 locations were identified throughout the city as potential locations for an ALPR system so that the prospective vendor could provide an approximate cost for the overall program. Those locations were identified because they give the best possible coverage to protect the entire Mt. Juliet community.

The department tested a single ALPR site for around 60 days, which led to the discovery of stolen vehicles and wanted persons who were apprehended. In one instance, officers pursued a stolen vehicle that was occupied by four teenagers, back into Nashville before the pursuit was terminated due to dangerous speeds.

A vendor will be selected after proposals are received on December 17, 2019.

List of proposed locations:

Sites	Proposed ALPR Locations	Direction of camera
1	Nonaville Rd / Saundersville Rd	South
2	North Green Hill / at Green Hill High	South
3	North Green Hill / at Lebanon Rd	East
4	Lebanon Rd / Matterhorn	East
5	Lebanon Rd / Matterhorn	West
6	West Division St / County Line	East
7	West Division St / County Line	West
8	Old Lebanon Dirt Rd / County Line	East
9	Old Lebanon Dirt Rd / County Line	West
10	Central Pike / Chandler Rd	East
11	Central Pike / John Hagar Rd	East
12	Central Pike / Adams Lane	West
13	Central Pike / S. Mt. Juliet Rd	South
14	Central Pike / S. Mt. Juliet Rd	East
15	Central Pike / S. Mt. Juliet Rd	North
16	South Rutland Rd. / City Limits (South of Baird Farms Construction Entrance)	North
17	Central Pike / Walton’s Grove Subdivision	West
18	Posey Hill Rd / Beckwith Rd	West
19	Wilfong Pkwy / Beckwith Rd	South
20	Golden Bear / Rutland Dr	North
21	East Division / Golden Bear	West
22	East Division / Golden Bear	East
23	I-40 / North Mt. Juliet Rd	North
24	South Mt. Juliet Rd / Herschel Dr.	South
25	Belinda Parkway / Providence Trail	East
26	North Mt. Juliet Rd / Pleasant Grove Rd	North
27	North Mt. Juliet Rd / Pleasant Grove Rd	South
28	North Mt. Juliet Rd / West Division	North
29	North Mt. Juliet Rd / East Division	East
30	North Mt. Juliet Rd / East Division	South
31	North Mt. Juliet Rd. / West Division	West
32	North Mt. Juliet Rd. / Lebanon Rd	East
33	North Mt. Juliet Rd. / Lebanon Rd	South
34	North Mt Juliet Rd. / Lebanon Rd	West
35	Lebanon Rd / Terrace Hill Rd	East
36	Lebanon Rd / Terrace Hill Rd	West
37	Charlie Daniels Park Entrance	Entrance

A copy of the Request for Proposal can be found here: Request for Proposal.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – After fleeing a traffic stop, two suspects were ultimately apprehended after officers, deputies, and a K9 worked together to find them. Around 7:00 a.m. this morning, Officer Wentzell conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding along Lebanon Road near Springmont Drive. The vehicle occupants became uncooperative during the stop, and two adult men ran. Officer Wentzell stayed with the driver, 25-year-old Lakwannda Hughes of Hermitage, as other responding officers and Wilson County Sheriff’s deputies searched the Springmont area for the two fleeing suspects.

After the suspects’ descriptions were sent out through a Nixle text message and posted to social media, multiple sightings were reported. Deputies first apprehended 28-year-old Markist Jones of Nashville, who was attempting to hide under a shed.

Cpl. Barth and K9 Majlo arrived on the scene during the search, and Majlo led officers to 22-year-old Devonta Willis of Nashville hiding under a shed. Willis failed to come out from under the shed, and K9 Majlo apprehended him. During the apprehension, a handgun fell from Willis’s person. Willis was transported and released from a local hospital due to Majlo’s bite.

Further investigation revealed that Hughes was driving on a revoked driver’s license. Jones was wanted out of Metro-Nashville on six different warrants related to failure to appear and a felony probation violation. Willis was wanted out of Wilson County on a failure to appear.

All were arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail. Hughes charged with Driving on Revoked. Jones was charged with Evading Arrest, Resisting Arrest and Criminal Impersonation. Willis was charged with Evading Arrest, Resisting Arrest, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

The booking photo of Markist Jones was not available when originally posted.

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