Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Theft suspects, who burglarized a nearby home under construction and caused significant damage to a nearby occupied home as they fled the scene in their truck, are now both in custody. Mt. Juliet Police officers were summoned to the 1000 Block of Carriage Trail Wednesday afternoon around 12:30 p.m. in reference to a home struck by a vehicle. The home was occupied by one person during impact. Luckily, no injuries occurred during the crash.
Home Struck by Fleeing Theft Suspects
Investigation revealed that two white men were in the process of burglarizing a home under construction, but they became spooked by a nearby homeowner. The suspects fled the scene in reverse and lost control, causing a trail of damage. Two mailboxes and a fire hydrant were destroyed, and a home was badly damaged in their attempt to leave the scene.
Around 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening, one of the suspects, Christopher Guess, 22, of Portland, turned himself in at Mt. Juliet Police headquarters. He was arrested and charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident and Failure to Report an Accident . The second suspect was identified as Jason Goode, 39, of Mt. Juliet. Warrants for his arrest were issued for Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Failure to Report an Accident, Felony Vandalism, Theft, and Driving on a Revoked Drivers License. Goode was apprehended by Mt. Juliet Police Thursday morning around 10:00 a.m.
Jason Goode, 39, of Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
Christopher Guess, 22, of Portland, Tenn.
“I’m thankful for our strong working relationship with local media partners. Their service to our community is invaluable. They were able to relay the information on our suspects quickly, which motivated one of them to turn himself in to authorities,” said Police Chief James Hambrick. “In addition, I’m proud of our investigators who quickly pursued leads in this case to ensure it was resolved quickly.”
Since the home was badly damaged, the Fire Department of Mt. Juliet (FDMJ) and building inspectors responded to the scene to check the home’s structural integrity. The home was declared unsafe. However, FDMJ is going a step further so the homeowner is not forced to move out. Firefighters temporarily repaired the home to ensure it was safe for the homeowner. Lumber and supplies were brought to the scene by Mt. Juliet’s volunteer firefighters so work could be completed on the home.
Photos of FDMJ Firefighters Repairing the Home:
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