Mt. Juliet Police Newsroom

Update / Arrest Made: https://mjpdnews.org/2018/08/20/suspicious-person-investigation-leads-to-apprehension-of-gas-station-burglar/

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Early this morning, a burglar broke through glass to steal nearly $1,000 in vape pens. Around 3:00 a.m. this morning, the burglar broke into the Shell Gas Station, at 14422 Lebanon Road, and took Juul vape pods and Juul vape pens. After the theft, surveillance video confirmed the burglar ran away towards Devonshire Drive.

The burglar is described as a very thin white male, approximately 6′ tall, and was wearing a black hat and red bandana over his face.

If anyone has a feeling that they possibly know the suspect responsible for this crime, they are 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/ .

Hermitage, Tenn. – Steadfast work from Mt. Juliet detectives led to the apprehension of an adult man, wanted for multiple charges related to credit card skimming activity in Charlotte, NC. Using investigative techniques, it was discovered that the unnamed, 30-year-old man was likely in the Mt. Juliet area. Detectives searched for the man, and he was apprehended driving a rental vehicle in Hermitage on Old Hickory Boulevard near Interstate 40 around 9:00 p.m. last night.

During the apprehension, detectives discovered credit card skimming equipment and multiple cloned credit cards. It is likely that the he was in the process or attempting to skim credit cards in the area.

Individuals are encouraged to watch their debit and credit card transactions for fraudulent activity. If any suspicious transactions are spotted, the card issuer should be notified immediately.

Due to the continuing investigation, the man’s identity was not released.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – School zones will have a strong focus by Mt. Juliet police officers as students in Wilson County head back to school. Officers will be focusing on 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 cell phone use in school zones, school bus stop-arm, texting while driving, seat belt, and child passenger safety laws.

Last week, Chief James Hambrick also spoke to Wilson County’s school crossing guards and expressed support for all the hard, very important work they do to keep students safe. Throughout the school year, the department will keep 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 to also raise awareness. Mt. Juliet Police have three 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. This includes marked curbs. These 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 prepared 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. – Mt. Juliet Police has launched a new unit to further serve the community and free up officers for higher priority incidents. A new civilian, all volunteer unit in the department, Community Service Officers will be deployed in the field to aid police officers by responding to lower priority calls for service.

Community Service Officers, when on duty, are available to assist with traffic control, visibility patrols, motorist assists, roadway debris removal, extra patrols, home vacation checks, and many other low priority incidents. The unit is designed to relieve police officers of some of the more minor and routine tasks that can more effectively and economically be handled by civilian volunteers. Thus, freeing up police officers to deal with higher priority tasks and criminal activities more comparable with their training and expertise.

Community Service Officers are civilians, not police officers, and undergo a 50-hour training program before starting their service. They are identified in bright green, reflective polo shirts and black pants. The department plans to open up opportunities for interested citizens to become a volunteer Community Service Officer in the future.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Officers quickly caught up to an armed robbery suspect, who just committed a string of crimes on Barrett Drive and Weston Drive. Around 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3, officers were summoned to the 1400 block of Barrett Drive for a robbery of a person that had just occurred. Officers quickly arrived in the area, and one spotted the suspect after a citizen pointed him out. A foot chase ensued, winding through the front and rear of nearby businesses. Officers quickly caught the suspect, 30-year-old John Claiborne of Franklin, as he attempted to hide under the rear deck of a business on N. Mt. Juliet Road.

Another vigilant officer in the area spotted a suspicious vehicle parked in a nearby parking lot. The driver, 30-year-old Lavonya Shannon of Lebanon, originally gave a false name to the officer. However, her real identity was discovered, which revealed she was wanted out of Wilson County. She was found to be related to the incidents.

Further investigation revealed that Claiborne also burglarized a car parked in a garage on Barrett Drive and attempted to rob another person in the 1100 block of Weston Drive. As Claiborne was running from officers, he dropped multiple stolen items and other evidence. Officers and detectives conducted a thorough evidence search by checking roofs, drain pipes, and under porches.

Thankfully, no one was injured in this incident. The suspects have no connection to the area where the crimes were committed.

Claiborne was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Aggravated Robbery, Burglary, and Criminal Attempt. Shannon was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail on a failure to appear warrant and charged with Criminal Impersonation.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – 33-year-old Markeus Largent of Elizabethon, who ran from an officer during a traffic stop on Interstate 40 near Golden Bear Gateway, was apprehended. After being stopped for a brake light violation, Largent ran from the traffic stop and across all lanes of the interstate before entering thick woods. During a search, he was spotted attempting to clean-up in a creek near Volunteer Boulevard and Rutland Drive. He attempted to run from officers again, but he was caught after a short chase. Largent was wanted out of Carter County for a Probation Violation. He was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail, charged with Evading Arrest and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

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