Mt. Juliet, Tenn. — The Department is raising concern about escalating “Junior/Senior Prank Wars” after multiple recent calls and 13 incidents across Mt. Juliet neighborhoods have required police response or action.
What may have started as a school tradition or harmless fun has moved well beyond that point. The behavior being reported is not comparable to traditional pranks such as toilet-papering a yard. Officers are now responding to incidents involving legitimate vandalism, reckless driving, trespassing, property damage, and other conduct that creates a serious risk of injury.
Community members have reported and officers have become aware of participants recklessly chasing one another in vehicles through neighborhoods, driving without headlights, running across roadways and through private property while wearing ski masks and dark clothing, shooting paintballs at vehicles and causing dents, placing liquids on homes that have caused staining, damaging landscaping and decorations, and breaking residential home windows.
There are currently three active criminal vandalism investigations related to to incidents in which victims have chosen to pursue prosecution against those involved.
“We do not want to see a teenager hurt or charged with a crime over something they thought was just a prank,” said Mt. Juliet Police Chief Tyler Chandler. “What we are seeing has crossed far beyond harmless fun. When someone damages another person’s property, drives recklessly through a neighborhood, or creates a situation where someone could be seriously injured, there are real consequences. Our hope is that students and parents take this seriously now, before someone gets hurt or a young person makes a decision that follows them much longer than one night.”
Entering another person’s property or damaging yards, homes, vehicles, mailboxes, landscaping, decorations, or other property may result in criminal charges and financial responsibility for the damage caused. Reckless driving and other dangerous conduct may also result in enforcement action.
Calling something a “prank” does not excuse criminal behavior or actions that place others at risk.
MJPD is asking students to stop and think before participating in these activities and is encouraging parents and guardians to speak directly with their teens about the seriousness of the recent incidents.
A few moments of poor judgment can quickly result in an injury, a vehicle crash, significant property damage, criminal charges, restitution, or consequences that extend far beyond a school tradition.
The Mt. Juliet Police Department’s responsibility is to protect people and property and prevent dangerous behavior from escalating further.
Have fun with your friends. But respect other people, their property, and the safety of everyone in our community.
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