MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31st, 2012
Car Thief Has Change of Heart & Confesses to Crimes
Case: 12-54453
Date: July 31st, 2012
Time: 9:00AM
Location: 2425 N. Mt. Juliet Road (Mt. Juliet Police Headquarters)
Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – After an early morning crime spree in Mt. Pleasant, Tenn, Austin Sparks had a change of heart and decided to confess about his crimes to Mt. Juliet Police. Austin, who is 20 and from Mt. Pleasant, stated to investigators that closely after midnight on Tuesday, July 31st he began his burglaries. All of the crimes took place across the street from Mt. Pleasant High School where Austin broke into around six unlocked cars. Looking for quick cash, Austin made away with spare change, extra keys, and phones. The sixth vehicle, a white work truck, that he came to was also unlocked and had the key in the ignition. That opportunity allowed him to steal the truck, and Austin took off with it and decided to drive to Mt. Juliet. While in Mt. Juliet, he sat and ate at McDonald’s by Interstate 40 and began to think about his criminal acts. The conscious decision of doing right or wrong consumed him, and he decided he would do right. His change of heart convinced him to drive the stolen vehicle to Mt. Juliet Police headquarters to turn himself in. He shocked the police department clerks at the front door when he walked in to confess his crimes.
“He walked in and told me that he had just stolen a car and it’s parked out front,” said clerk Kinnie Long. “It was shocking. He even stated that he felt bad for what he had done.”
Investigators met with Austin regarding his crime spree. When they asked him why he had a change of heart, he simply stated that he wanted to start doing right thing. Ultimately, Austin Sparks had to be arrested for his crimes. He was booked into the Wilson County Jail where he will wait for Mt. Pleasant authorities.
“It is very uncommon to have someone willingly confess to crimes,” said MJPD Sgt. Tyler Chandler. “It’s inspiring to see Austin have a change of heart. Hopefully he is now on the right track in life.”
Anyone with any information on current investigations or ongoing crime trends 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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Contact: Sgt. Chandler, Community Policing Director/PIO
Phone: (615) 773-6260 E-Mail: tchandler@cityofmtjuliet.org