Mt. Juliet Police Newsroom

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – To further strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, Mt. Juliet Police will be hosting a community appreciation day, community chili cook-off, and open house. The event will be an excellent opportunity for residents to meet and talk with neighbors, friends, businesses, and members of the police department in a fun, friendly setting at police headquarters. The event will take place on Saturday, November 2, 2019, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Mt. Juliet Police Headquarters, located at 1019 Charlie Daniels Parkway. The event date was changed from October 26 to November 2 due to a poor weather forecast and predicted heavy rain.

 

Businesses, families, or a group of friends are encouraged to participate in the chili cook-off, and the public is invited to attend, eat chili, and check out police headquarters and equipment. There will be numerous displays of the Mt. Juliet Police Department’s resources and other law enforcement related equipment and technology.

Representatives for the department will be on-hand to conduct guided tours of police headquarters during the event. Also, a kids fun zone will be out on the department’s front lawn.

Those interested in participating in the Chili Cook-off can visit www.mjpdnews.org/chilicookoff for more details.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Two out-of-state suspects remain in custody after officers responded to a report of one using a false ID during a phone purchase. On Monday, August 12, 2019, around 5:55 p.m., officers responded to Sprint, at 600 S. Mt. Juliet Rd, to investigate a report of someone inside using a false ID. Upon arrival, the suspect using a fake ID, 22-year-old Juan Bradley of Florida, ran from officers. He was quickly apprehended. Further investigation led to Bradley’s accomplice, 24-year-old Daniel Hudson of Michigan, who was parked in a nearby car.

Further investigation revealed that Bradley and Hudson were involved in fraudulently obtaining cell phones by using other individual’s stolen identity. They were traveling from Michigan and stopping at various cell phone stores along their path. Early in the investigation, three fraudulently obtained cell phones were recovered, and two identify theft victims were identified.

“Our partnership with our business and retail community is strong,” stated Chief James Hambrick. “I’m thankful for the vigilance of the retail staff, who recognized the suspicious activity and fake ID. Ultimately, their vigilance led to the arrest of these multi-state, identity theft suspects.”

Bradley was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Identity Theft, Criminal Simulation, and Resisting Arrest. Hudson was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Identity Theft.

 

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Officers will strongly focus on school zones and bus stop locations as students in Wilson County head back to school. Officers will be on the lookout for motorists who disregard laws designed to protect children in school zones and will be providing extra attention at designated routes to and from schools during the first few weeks. In addition to the reduced speed limits in school zones, officers will be focusing on handheld phone use, school bus stop-arm, seat belt, and child passenger safety laws.

This week, Chief James Hambrick visited with Wilson County’s school crossing guards and expressed support for everything they do to keep students safe. The department continues to maintain an open line of communication with crossing guards so they can easily report unsafe drivers or any other safety issues within the city limits.

Digital radar speed signs have been deployed to school zones also to raise awareness. Mt. Juliet Police have four digital speed signs that display the speed of cars and visually warn drivers if they are driving above the speed limit.

Parents are encouraged to visit their child’s school website to become familiar with the traffic plans for drop-off and pick-up at each school. Wilson County School’s website is http://www.wcschools.com/.

To ensure our school zones are safe this school year, Mt. Juliet Police offer the following suggestions:

• Give yourself plenty of time in the morning! As traffic volumes and congestion on the roadways increase, so does the length of time it takes to travel to your destination. Giving yourself more time, by leaving earlier, reduces stress, increases your awareness, and improves your driving.
• Obey the posted speed limit signs and directional signs, including marked curbs. Signs and curb markings assist in the traffic flow into and out of the schools and assist in the safety of the students who walk and bike to school. One misplaced car can disrupt the traffic flow and the safety of our students.
• Be patient! Impatience leads to aggressive driving, rude or unwarranted behavior, pedestrian and bicycle collisions, and it creates traffic gridlock. Remember, everyone has the same goal in mind: to get our children safely to and from school. Also remember, the habits you exhibit in your driving and demeanor are typically passed on to your children when they start driving.
• If you are driving your children to school, have them ready to leave the car, with all of their belongings, when you come to a stop at the school. Backups and delays are caused when children have to get their backpacks and other items from the trunk or back seat of a car. Explore other alternatives such as carpool, ride-sharing, walking, or biking to school.
• Watch and obey the school crossing guards. Crossing guards are provided to assist with school traffic and the safe crossing of your students across the surrounding streets near each elementary school. Be on the lookout, be prepared to stop, and be ready to follow their directions so our children can get to and from school safely.

Stopping for a School Bus Law:

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A man is out on bond after placing other motorists in extreme danger and attempting to ram an officer while fleeing from a traffic stop. Ultimately, an officer ended the pursuit by using his patrol car to disable the fleeing vehicle. On Thursday, July 25, 2019, just before 7:00 p.m. an officer attempted to stop a motorist, 20-year-old Mina Gerges of Nashville, for traffic violations and suspicion of driving under the influence on Interstate 40 West near the 224 mile-marker.

Gerges did a dangerous u-turn on the interstate and began to flee on the shoulder in the wrong direction. When exiting the interstate at the N. Mt. Juliet Road interchange, Gerges aimed the vehicle towards an officer in a patrol SUV, who avoided any impact. Gerges continued to flee into a busy grocery store parking lot with pedestrians, where he and a patrol SUV collided. Gerges continued to flee, and due to his extremely dangerous behavior, an officer successfully used his patrol car to disable the fleeing vehicle on N. Mt. Juliet Road near Weston Drive.

After a nearly 6 minute, 3.5 mile pursuit, Gerges was apprehended. An 18-year-old male passenger was not charged during the incident. No one was injured.

Gerges was charged and released on a $16,000 bond for Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangerment, Felony Evading Arrest, and Driving on a Suspended Drivers License.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – No one was charged after officers and multiple resources responded to an apparent domestic-related incident with an alleged firearm this morning on Pascal Drive. Around 5:20 a.m., an adult female called 911 and stated, “He has a firearm.” When asked if she needed Police, Fire, or Medical, the caller said, “Police and maybe medical, I don’t know – he has a gun.”

While the call was being transferred from Wilson County 911 to the Mt. Juliet Police Dispatchers, the caller hung up and was unreachable. When officers arrived on the scene and were approaching the front door, they observed a male subject secure the door. With obvious concern that someone could be in danger, the department continued the investigation to ensure everyone was safe. No one would respond to any contact attempt for nearly two hours. An adult male and adult female finally responded to crisis negotiators, and they came out of the home. Another adult male remained in the house for nearly an hour longer until he finally came out.

Ultimately, everyone involved in the incident was uncooperative, and their stories were inconsistent as to what took place. Detectives continue to investigate further, but no charges have been filed at this moment.

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Silver Alert Canceled – Mr. Marquez was just found safe by an officer after he wandered 3.5 miles away from home.

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The Mt. Juliet Police Department has issued a Silver Alert for a missing 64-year-old man. Guillermo Marquez left his home around 1:20 p.m. this afternoon, and he has not returned. It is very unusual for Mr. Marquez to be away from home in this manner, and he is believed to be in danger because of a health and mental disability.

Mr. Marquez is a 64-year-old Hispanic male, 5’9” tall, weighs 170 lbs, has brown eyes, and black/gray hair. He was last known to be wearing a blue, long sleeve shirt and blue pants. He left his residence on Ashmere Court near W. Division Street and N. Mt. Juliet Road on foot.

If you see Mr. Marquez or have information on his whereabouts, please call 911.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Detectives are looking to identify a man who may have information in regards to an assault investigation. On Thursday, July 18, 2019, around 3:10 p.m., an adult female stated that she was inappropriately touched while inside the Speedway, at 12115 Lebanon Road. An unidentified, adult white male was determined to be a person-of-interest, and detectives want to speak with him.

Detectives hope someone in the community will recognize him from the surveillance video image.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident 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. – Detectives charged two juvenile car burglary suspects and tracked down a stolen gun after a resident spotted them in his car. Around 2:20 a.m. on July 11, 2019, a resident in the 2100 block of Ponty Pool Dr, while walking his dog, spotted two burglars inside his vehicle. The resident attempted to detain both burglars, but one ran off. With the assistance of a family member, one burglar was detained and disarmed of a BB handgun until officers arrived.

Officers arrived and took a 17-year-old male of Mt. Juliet into custody. A handgun, stolen on July 6, 2019 from another home nearby, was recovered from the 17-year-old’s bedroom. Further investigation led to the identity of the other burglary suspect, who ran away, and he was also identified as a 17-year-old male of Mt. Juliet.

The first 17-year-old was charged with Burglary to a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Weapon, and Theft of Property, and the second was charged with Burglary to a Motor Vehicle. Both were scheduled to appear in the Wilson County Juvenile Court.

While we rely on our community to report suspicious activity and crimes-in-progress, we will always caution any confrontation with the suspects involved. Car burglars continue to seek out unsecured guns, and many of them are armed. When confronted, it could easily result in a violent encounter, and our citizens are encouraged to stay safe and call the police immediately.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Identification has been made after a man was found deceased in the parking lot of West Wilson Middle School. Around 10:30 a.m. this morning, officers rushed to the school after it was reported a man was unresponsive in the parking lot. Officers and medics arrived to find 71-year-old William Oliver of Old Hickory deceased.

Detectives determined that Mr. Oliver pulled into the parking lot to likely adjust something on the boat. During the process, he fell from the boat, resulting in fatal injuries. An employee of the school found him unresponsive and called for help. Mr. Oliver was not affiliated with Wilson County Schools.

The department’s heartfelt condolences go out to Mr. Oliver’s family as they handle this unexpected loss.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A musical Fourth of July Celebration is planned, and Mt. Juliet’s Fireworks will launch at 9:00 p.m. from the Mt. Juliet Little League Ball Fields on Lebanon Road. To ensure the event is safe and enjoyable for everyone, Mt. Juliet Police and Fire will be on site. The firework presentation, presented by the City of Mt. Juliet and 94FM – The Fish, will begin around 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 4th, 2019 and launch from the ball fields. Premium, excellent viewing for the fireworks will be at the ball fields, where there will be a $10 parking fee per vehicle that benefits the Mt. Juliet League Baseball/Softball. Good views also expand out to area parking lots near the Lebanon Road and N. Mt. Juliet Road intersection. Attendees are encouraged to tune their FM radios to 94.1 as the firework display will be choreographed to music.

Interactive Viewing Area Map:

With there being two firework displays in the city on July 4th, Mt. Juliet’s public safety teams are expecting large attendance and increased traffic. Safety is always a top priority, and many police officers will be present during the events for patrols and traffic control. With any significant event, attendees should always be vigilant for suspicious activity. If anything suspicious is spotted, attendees are encouraged to say something and call police. To contact the police department’s non-emergency line, attendees can dial 311. Also, the Fire Department of Mt. Juliet will have extra firefighters on hand near the firework launch sites.

A traffic plan has been established, and advanced traffic signals will adapt to the increased traffic. In addition, officers will manually control traffic signals to provide priority to traffic leaving the shows.

Please remember, during these events, our roadways will see an increase in traffic, so minor delays should be expected. Personal fireworks, alcoholic beverages, barbecue grills, and parking on roadway medians are prohibited.

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