Mt. Juliet Police Newsroom

Update: Female was located at a hospital in Nashville and undergoing a mental health evaluation. Detectives determined that there was no foul play involved.

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – After receiving credible information from a person who was concerned that a female was possibly being held against her will and involved in a domestic-related incident at an apartment in Lifestyles community, a search warrant was executed at an apartment in hopes of finding the female. Around 8:15 p.m. on Friday, September 14, officers were summoned to an apartment in the 100 block of Ashton Avenue to investigate a domestic-related incident.

It was extremely important to officers to ensure that a female, who could be inside the apartment, was not harmed, which required them to get inside. Ultimately, a search warrant was obtained, and executed by the department’s Special Response Team.

Unfortunately, the female was not located. Detectives are working all available angles in hopes of finding her, and they continue to investigate. Identification will not be released at this time while detectives pursue leads. 

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – An officer spotted a stolen vehicle, involved in an armed robbery in Antioch, and pursued it into Nashville. The vehicle description, a dark-colored Chevrolet Cobalt occupied by four teenagers armed with rifles and wearing masks, was relayed to Mt. Juliet Police communications by Metro-Nashville Police to be on the lookout. Around midnight, an officer spotted the vehicle in the Century of Providence apartment complex and attempted to stop it.

The pursuit was discontinued on Patricia Drive, near Briley Parkway and Interstate 40, after the pursuing officer lost contact due to high speeds. The vehicle was later located nearby and abandoned. The occupants were not located.

“I’m grateful that our officers spotted the suspects prior to them being able to commit a serious crime in our city. It is obvious that they were dangerous individuals,” stated Chief James Hambrick. “Criminals do not recognize the invisible city limit lines, and it is important for all of us to stay vigilant- especially late at night when the majority of these crimes are being committed by armed teenagers across the Metro-Nashville region.”

The department continues to meet and share information with surrounding police departments, including the Metro-Nashville Police Department, about this recent trend. Residents are always urged to report suspicious activity, lock their car, remove any valuables, and be mindful of their surroundings late at night and into the early morning hours.

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. – A 15-year-old is in custody after being found in a car that was just stolen from a woman in Hermitage. Around 8:15 p.m. tonight, Mt. Juliet police dispatch was called by a victim who just had her car taken while she was at a laundromat near Lebanon Pike and Central Pike in Hermitage. While away from the car, it was left running and unlocked. The victim was tracking the vehicle by GPS, and it was showing a place in the Providence area. Officers found the 2014 Ford Fusion at Mapco, 194 S. Mt. Juliet Road, and attempted to stop it when it became stuck on a curb.

Two suspects ran from the car, and a 15-year-old male from Hermitage was taken into custody. The passenger, a black male in his teens, was not caught. He was last known to be wearing a black shirt and plaid cargo shorts.

The 15-year-old was transported to Wilson County Youth Services for processing.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Detectives are concerned about the whereabouts of a missing man, and police are hoping to find him safe. 29-year-old Dace Martinez has not been heard from since Saturday, August 25, 2018, and is missing from the West Division Street area in Mt. Juliet near the Davison County line.

Martinez left his residence without his mobile phone, cash, or extra clothing, which is suspicious. It is unknown what Martinez was wearing when he left, but he is a Hispanic male, 6’1″ tall, and weighs around 140 pounds.

If anyone has any information about the whereabouts of Dace Martinez, they are urged 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. – One teen, responsible for a carjacking of a man at Exxon recently, is in custody after a community member spotted the surveillance video on a social media post. Around 2:30 a.m. on August 21, 2018, a 39-year-old man was approached by three teenagers while he was pumping gas at Exxon, at 125 N. Mt. Juliet Road. Video of the carjacking incident and suspects using the victim’s credit card was shared with the community, which resulted in a positive identification of one suspect.

18-year-old Patrick Smith of Nashville was identified, and he was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail under a $75,000 bond, charged with Aggravated Robbery. Detectives continue to investigate this incident and follow leads to apprehend others responsible.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Three adults are in custody after officers responded to a shoplifting in progress incident at Walmart. On Thursday, August 30, around 5:00 p.m., officers responded to the area of Walmart, at 300 Pleasant Grove Road, in search of a man who fled the area after shoplifting. An off-duty police officer spotted the man, later identified as 29-year-old James Jones of Nashville, entering a crawl space at a home in the 1400 block of Barrett Drive. Jones was ultimately taken into custody and found to be in possession of the stolen merchandise.

Further investigation revealed that Jones arrived with two other people, and officers located them in the parking lot of Walmart. While investigating, officers found 38-year-old John Murdock of Hermitage in possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia. 24-year-old Alexandria Terry of Nashville was found wanted out of Nashville for failure to be booked.

Jones was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Burglary, Evading Arrest, and Theft of Merchandise.

Murdock was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Simple Possession of a Schedule I Drug (Heroin) and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Terry was arrested and transferred to Metro-Nashville Police for her outstanding warrant for arrest.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The Mt. Juliet Golden Bears will take on the Lebanon Blue Devils tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m., which is expected to be a very well-attended, popular game. Mt. Juliet police officers will be on hand in the area to aid with any traffic issues that could arise. Officers will also be watching for illegal parking in neighborhoods near Mt. Juliet High School.

If parking becomes full at Mt. Juliet High School’s parking lot, attendees are encouraged to park on the shoulder of Golden Bear Gateway. Parking is prohibited inside any neighborhood.

Motorists should be mindful of the increased traffic expected for the evening in the Golden Bear Gateway corridor. From everyone at Mt. Juliet Police, we wish everyone a safe, enjoyable evening. Go Bears!

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Mt. Juliet Police continue to urge residents to remove their valuables and lock their cars after burglaries occurred to four unlocked cars in the Cambridge Crossing neighborhood. Under the cover of darkness and during the early morning hours, around 2:30 a.m., burglars searched for unlocked cars in neighborhoods off N. Greenhill Road. The thieves directly checked doors, car-to-car, to find any that are not locked.

The unknown burglars took a digital tablet, cash, and coins. In one particular incident, the suspects entered an open garage and burglarized both vehicles inside. The specific streets affected by the burglaries inside the city limits were Wrencrest Drive and Brenthaven Drive.

Residents are urged to remove all valuables, including any vehicle titles, from their cars and ensure doors are locked. Each of these crimes could have been prevented by just locking the car. Also, homeowners are asked to check their outdoor surveillance video footage to see if any suspects were caught on camera operating in the area.

A $500.00 cash reward is being offered to anyone that can provide information that leads to the conviction of the offenders responsible for these crimes.

Anyone with any information regarding the burglaries 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. – Armed teens carjacked an adult man overnight at Exxon after their other stolen car broke down nearby. Around 2:30 a.m. this morning, a 39-year-old man was approached by three teenagers while he was pumping gas at Exxon, at 125 N. Mt. Juliet Road. One of the teens pressed a handgun on the victim’s head during the robbery. The teens stole his wallet and 2014 Gray Kia Sportage, fleeing towards Nashville on Interstate 40. The victim’s credit card  was used around an hour later at a market in Smyrna, where the teens bought snacks.

Officers discovered a stolen, broke down 2004 Toyota Camry near the gas station that was abandoned. It is believed that after the suspect’s stolen car broke down they went to the gas station to steal another car. The Toyota Camry was stolen from Nashville during a robbery only hours before.

“Suburban communities around the Nashville area continue to experience dangerous crimes committed by teenagers. While our police officers work hard to prevent such from happening, we are not immune to this crime,” stated Chief James Hambrick. “Our community needs to be aware of this activity and be mindful of their surroundings when out late at night or in the early morning hours.”

If anyone has a feeling that they possibly know the suspects 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. – After spotting a suspicious person walking along Lebanon Road near Devonshire Drive, a man was arrested in the Shell gas station burglary that occurred on Saturday, August 18. An astute officer patrolling the area noticed a suspicious person around 10:15 a.m. this morning, who attempted to hide a backpack as the officer drove by.

After speaking with the person, 19-year-old Luciano Ruotolo of Mt. Juliet, it was determined that he was responsible for the Shell gas station burglary, where nearly $1,000 of Juul vape pods and pens were stolen after the front glass was busted. Further investigation by detectives also revealed that Ruotolo was in possession of nearly half of the items stolen from the gas station.

“Mt. Juliet’s finest work hard to keep our community safe, and they are always on the lookout for suspicious activity,” stated Chief James Hambrick. “We continue to be relentless in our desire to make sure Mt. Juliet is one of the safest communities in Tennessee.”

Ruotolo was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Burglary, Theft of Property, Unlawful Possession of Burglary Tools, and Vandalism.

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