Mt. Juliet Police Newsroom

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A 31-year-old man, wanted out of Ohio for felony drug possession, is in custody following a traffic stop in Mt. Juliet. A Mt. Juliet Police officer clocked a car on radar speeding 61 MPH in a 35 MPH zone on S. Greenhill Road near Willoughby Station Boulevard. The driver, identified as Alexander Kurth, 31, of Old Hickory, was stopped for exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 25 MPH while he was in the process of delivering pizza to a customer.

A computer check, through a national database, revealed that Kurth was wanted out of Ohio on a full-extradition warrant. An indictment filed in the Shelby County, OH Court of Common Pleas on July 21, 2014 charged Kurth with violating Ohio Revised Code for 5^th Degree Felony Possession of Drugs.

He was taken into custody and booked into the Wilson County Jail, where he will await extradition back to Ohio.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Around 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday, August 6, Mt. Juliet Police, Fire Department of Mt. Juliet, and Wilson EMA responded to a possible natural gas line break in the area of Providence Parkway in the Providence community. Upon arrival, emergency responders found Piedmont Natural Gas attempting to repair a reported 4 inch gas main rupture, located behind Providence 14 theater and across Providence Parkway. Piedmont Natural Gas repair crews capped and stopped the gas leak around 1:15 p.m. this afternoon.

Emergency responders determined that this was a large natural gas line incident, and heavy fumes were travelling downwind from the rupture. Therefore, a Dangerous Situation Alert was issued to area residents. Residents and tenants in the immediate area were advised to leave the area. For those who stayed in the area, residents were asked to stay indoors, shelter-in-place, and turn off air conditioning systems.

This dangerous situation is over and the rupture was repaired. Officials with Piedmont Natural Gas told emergency responders that a contractor for a water utility was completing work in the area and struck the gas main.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Around 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday, August 6, Mt. Juliet Police, Fire Department of Mt. Juliet, and Wilson EMA responded to a possible natural gas line break in the area of Providence Parkway in the Providence community. Upon arrival, emergency responders found Piedmont Natural Gas attempting to repair a reported 4 inch gas main rupture, located behind Providence 14 theater and across Providence Parkway. Piedmont Natural Gas repair crews capped and stopped the gas leak around 1:15 p.m. this afternoon.

Emergency responders determined that this was a large natural gas line incident, and heavy fumes were travelling downwind from the rupture. Therefore, a Dangerous Situation Alert was issued to area residents. Residents and tenants in the immediate area were advised to leave the area. For those who stayed in the area, residents were asked to stay indoors, shelter-in-place, and turn off air conditioning systems.

This dangerous situation is over and the rupture was repaired. Officials with Piedmont Natural Gas told emergency responders that a contractor for a water utility was completing work in the area and struck the gas main.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. –  Officers were summoned to Green Hills Homes on Monday afternoon around 6:40 p.m. after reports that a man was chasing a woman with a butcher knife. Upon arrival, the 56-year-old female victim ran up to officers as they pulled into the mobile home complex at 14200 Lebanon Road.  Officers learned that the victim was allegedly assaulted and threatened with a butcher knife, prior to being chased by the offender, who was identified as Richard Fowler, 49, of Mt. Juliet.

Witnesses stated that Fowler ran into the woods as police were arriving on scene. Officers quickly established a containment perimeter around the wooded area that Fowler was hiding in, and two officers went into the area to search for Fowler. As public alerts were about to be transmitted, officers stated that they had located Fowler lying on the ground and hiding under vegetation.  Fowler’s two pet dogs followed him into the woods, and their barking assisted in his quick apprehension. He was unarmed when officers located him.

Fowler was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail under a $10,000 bond for Aggravated Assault, which he is to appear in court on August 19, 2014.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A female patron having dinner at a local restaurant became a theft victim after someone snatched her wallet from her purse while she ate. On July 11, 2014 around 5:00 p.m. a 54-year-old female sat down with her husband to have dinner at Cracker Barrel, located at 355 S. Mt. Juliet Road. While having dinner, someone stole her wallet from her purse as it hung on the back of her chair. A witness later reported that they saw a white female reach into the victim’s purse.

Prior to cancelling her credit cards, the victim noticed fraudulent charges on her accounts. Mt. Juliet Police investigators followed up with the case, and they were able to obtain surveillance footage of the female suspect attempting to use the victim’s credit cards at Walgreens in Hermitage and Kroger in Mt. Juliet. Investigators hope someone in the community will recognize the thief from the surveillance images so she can be apprehended.

This crime is a reminder to all who carry purses, and purses should always be kept in sight and closed. In addition, it is believed that this female suspect is the same person committing similar crimes in other Middle-Tennessee communities by using the same method and taking wallets out of purses when the victim is distracted or inattentive.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Officers were summoned to a home in the 300 Block of Dunwood Loop around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday afternoon to do a welfare check on an adult male threatening suicide. Upon arrival, officers learned that the subject had locked himself inside the home and was possibly armed with handguns and long-range rifles. Approximately 12 homes were asked to evacuate due to their close proximity to the subject’s home and to ensure that residents remained safe during the incident.

Mt. Juliet Police Department’s Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiators quickly responded to the scene to ensure it ended as best as possible. In addition, Wilson County Sheriff’s Office sent their SWAT and Crisis Negotiation team to assist. During the ongoing situation, residents were not allowed to enter the Providence Landing neighborhood since the barricaded subject’s home was in close proximity to the neighborhood entrance. Other homeowners were asked to shelter in place.

After speaking with a Wilson County Sheriff Crisis Negotiator, the barricaded subject came out the front door to meet officers around 6:15 p.m. Thankfully, no one was harmed during this incident, and the barricaded subject went to a hospital for treatment.

“I hate that many of our residents were displaced during this incident, but the well-being of the barricaded individual and the safety of the public was our top priority,” stated Chief James Hambrick. “We appreciate Wilson County Sheriff Robert Bryan and his team of fine officers for responding to assist us.”

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Students in Mt. Juliet are back to school this Friday and in an effort to keep kids safe while heading to and from school, Mt. Juliet Police are cracking down on motorists who disregard laws designed to protect children in school zones. The police department will have extra officers working at designated school zones before and after school for the first few weeks focusing on poor, unsafe driving behavior.

“It all comes down to the safety of our children,” stated Chief James Hambrick. “I want to ensure that our school zones and motorists are safe. So, I’ll also be out assisting officers in awareness and enforcement efforts as well.”

In addition to the reduced speed limits in school zones, officers will be focusing on school bus stop-arm, texting while driving, seat belt, and child passenger safety laws in the enhanced enforcement effort. The enhanced enforcement will be conducted during the first two weeks of school as drivers and students become familiarized with school zones and new traffic flow. Officers will be deployed during arrival and dismissal times while there is increased school traffic. Random school zone enforcement efforts will continue throughout the school year.

“It is Mt. Juliet’s Police Department goal to ensure the safety of children and teenagers as they travel to and from school throughout the year, and officers will be vigilant to ensure those who jeopardize the safety of our community are stopped,” stated Lieutenant Tyler Chandler.

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Reserve police officers are an important part of the team at the Mt. Juliet Police Department, and the department is looking for dedicated individuals who want to be involved in law enforcement and public safety. Are you looking for a meaningful and challenging opportunity that helps keep Mt. Juliet safe? If so, consider applying for the Mt. Juliet Police Department’s reserve police officer program.

Reserve officers provide a vital role in supplementing the sworn personnel in essential public safety operations, which they all volunteer their time for at no cost to the department. Every volunteer police officer performs a myriad of duties such as assisting in patrol operations, deploying during natural or man-made disasters, protecting the integrity of crime scenes, assisting with crowd & traffic control during special events, and provide security during municipal court and other city events.

Mt. Juliet Police reserve officers come from a variety of backgrounds that enhances the Mt. Juliet Police Department with their unique sets of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Currently, there are IT specialists, accountants, large company executives, and reserve and retired military officers in the rich mix of the reserve force. A blend of retirees and employed, the reserve officers are individuals who like to learn, have the time to commit, and are dedicated to serving their community. Once reserve officer candidates pass rigorous background checks, interviews, and a physical fitness obstacle course, they are required to undergo training conducted by police instructors.

To learn more about the program and pick up an application, the Reserve Program is hosting an information session on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. at Mt. Juliet Police Headquarters. Those who are interested in the program and feel they meet the qualifications are encouraged to attend. If you cannot make the information session, you should contact Lt. Chandler at (615) 754-3904 for an alternate application procedure. The application period will close on Friday, August 22, 2014 at 5:00 p.m..

Potential reserve officer applicants must meet similar qualifications as full-time police officers, which include:

Reserve Police Officer Qualifications

• Must be at least 21 Years of age
• Must be a high school graduate or equivalent
• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must not have been convicted of a felony or serious misdemeanor involving moral turpitude as the term is defined by law, and not having been released or discharged other than honorable conditions from any of the U.S. Armed Forces
• Must have his or her fingerprints on file with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
• Must pass a medical examination by a licensed physician
• Must pass a drug screen by a licensed physician
• Must have a good moral character as determined by a background investigation
• Must be free of all apparent mental disorders as described in the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Third Edition (DSM-11) of the American Psychiatric Association, and must be certified as meeting the criteria by a qualified professional in psychiatric and psychological fields
• Must possess a valid Tennessee drivers license

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn.  – Investigators with the Mt. Juliet Police Department are looking to identify a man who may know the whereabouts of a stolen wallet that contained a large amount of cash. On June 12, 2014, an officer was summoned to the Mapco gas station, located at 11247 Lebanon Road, for a stolen wallet report. The victim stated that he left his wallet on the top of his vehicle and drove away. When the victim returned to the gas station to locate his wallet, a store clerk stated a man came into the store to report he found a wallet in the parking lot. However, he never gave the wallet to the clerk nor returned it to the victim.

The person-of-interest is described as a white male, with an average body-build, in his mid-20’s, and having a beard. On the day the wallet was stolen, video surveillance shows him wearing a gray t-shirt with a landscaping company logo and khaki pants. The man was seen getting in and out of a white landscaping-style work truck.

Investigators hope someone in the community will recognize this person-of-interest from the surveillance video so they can be questioned about the stolen wallet.

Anyone with any information regarding this crime 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. – The community is cordially invited to celebrate the official opening of the new Mt. Juliet Police Headquarters with an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony this Friday, July 18.

The Mt. Juliet Police Department has been in a few different locations since they began serving in 1972, but for the first time, the new police headquarters is permanent and was renovated specifically to accommodate a fully-functional police department. After a $1.5 million dollar building purchase and $380 thousand dollar renovation project, the department now has their own place that they can call home.

“A free-standing police department is a first for Mt. Juliet Police, and we are very proud to have the opportunity to serve our community out of our new building,” said Police Chief James Hambrick. “I encourage our residents and community to join us this Friday for coffee and refreshments as we celebrate the official opening of Mt. Juliet’s new police headquarters.”

The debut of the new headquarters, at 1019 Charlie Daniels Parkway, is this Friday morning with a special Coffee With a Cop and Open House from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 9:00 a.m.

• Who: Mt. Juliet Police Department
• What: Open House/Coffee With a Cop and Ribbon-Cutting
• When: Friday, July 18, 2014
  • Open House & Coffee With a Cop: 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
  • Ribbon-cutting Ceremony: 9:00 a.m.
• Where: Mt. Juliet Police Headquarters, 1019 Charlie Daniels Pkwy, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

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