Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A traffic stop for speeding and a seatbelt violation on Interstate 40 East led to the recovery of a stolen handgun, suspected drugs, and the apprehension of a wanted driver Thursday afternoon.
As a Mt. Juliet Police Department officer approached the stopped vehicle, he observed a 34-year-old Nashville man seated in the rear passenger seat holding a handgun in his right hand.
The officer immediately took action to safely disarm the man.
During the investigation, the passenger stated he had been attempting to conceal the handgun in his waistband and did not realize the officer was approaching.
Officers determined the handgun had been reported stolen following a vehicle burglary in East Nashville’s Historic Edgefield neighborhood in July. In that incident, the victim returned to their truck and discovered a window had been smashed and the handgun stolen.
The passenger was also found in possession of suspected ecstasy and marijuana.
The driver, also a 34-year-old Nashville man, was found to have an outstanding Montgomery County warrant for driving on a revoked license. Officers also confirmed his driver license remained revoked.
The incident underscores the unpredictable nature of traffic enforcement. What begins as a speeding or seatbelt violation can quickly develop into an encounter involving a wanted individual, illegal drugs, stolen property, or a firearm.
During the first six months of 2026, Mt. Juliet officers apprehended 342 wanted individuals, 88 percent of whom were non-residents of Mt. Juliet.
Criminal activity does not stop at city limits. Through proactive policing, strong officer visibility, strategic patrol operations, and investigative work, Mt. Juliet officers continue working to identify threats, recover stolen property and weapons, apprehend wanted individuals, and prevent criminal activity from impacting the community.
Keeping Mt. Juliet safe requires vigilant officers, strong partnerships across jurisdictional lines, and the continued support of a community that values proactive public safety.
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