Mt. Juliet Police Newsroom

Case: 13-7802  Date: March 13, 2013  Time: 2:30AM

Location: Old Lebanon Dirt Rd at Nighthawk Lane

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Overnight, a reckless driver crashed his car into a creek then stole the car of a citizen who stopped to help him. Stephen Fields, 20, of Old Hickory, TN certainly wanted to elude police after he crashed and rolled his car into a creek in Mt. Juliet. A 43-year-old Mt. Juliet resident heard the crash and drove to the crash scene to see if anyone needed aid. Fields acted as if he was looking for a passenger, who was possibly ejected from the car, so the concerned citizen began looking around the crash scene for another injured person. While the concerned citizen was away from his GMC SUV, Fields stole it and sped away.

Cpl. Rountree was responding to the crash when he spotted Fields and the stolen SUV pass him at an extremely high rate of speed. A pursuit began after Cpl. Rountree turned around and attempted to stop Fields. Due to Field’s extremely fast speeds, officers lost sight of him temporarily. Sgt. Cook then spotted the stolen SUV and chased him until Fields bailed from the SUV and ran from officers on foot. Fields was later spotted by another citizen who saw Fields running through his yard on Clearview Drive in Mt. Juliet. That citizen was able to hold him with a rifle until officers arrived and took him into custody.

Stephen Fields was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail and was charged with the following:

• Theft of Property – $10,000 Bond
• Resisting Arrest – $2,500 Bond
• Evading Arrest – $2,500 Bond
• Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Property Damage – $2,500 Bond

He has a court date set for May 28th, 2013. The vehicle that he stole was returned to the owner who stopped to help him originally. Unfortunately, the vehicle received some damage from Field’s reckless driving behavior.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – After an extensive search, Mt. Juliet Public Safety Director Andy Garrett announced this evening at the Mt. Juliet Board of Commissioners meeting that the selection committee has selected Erron Kinney as Mt. Juliet’s Fire Chief. It is expected that Kinney will assume his duties as Fire Chief within the coming weeks.

“I know that Erron Kinney’s exceptional qualifications and experience make him the best fit for our City,” said Garrett. “Chief Kinney brings with him well over 20 years of exemplary service in all aspects of fire department management, coupled with his deep roots within the Middle Tennessee community.”

Kinney brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Interested in fire safety since childhood, firefighting and saving lives is in his heart. Currently, Kinney serves as Fire and Rescue Services Coordinator with the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency in Franklin, Tennessee. He previously served as a Captain for the St. Andrews Fire Department in Charleston, South Carolina and as a firefighter in Brentwood, Tennessee. In 2004, the Tennessee Governor appointed him to a seven-year term with the Tennessee State Firefighting Commission, which is an organization that tests and certifies firefighters in the state. A former NFL player with the Tennessee Titans, Kinney is well-known throughout Tennessee and well-involved in the community. Prior to his NFL career, Kinney attended the University of Florida where he majored in elementary education.

“It’s is very humbling, an honor, and a privilege to be appointed as Mt. Juliet’s Fire Chief. I am excited about working in one of Middle Tennessee’s best cities. I am extremely excited about the opportunities that are ahead for the city’s new fire department,” Kinney said.

At the Mt. Juliet Fire Department, Chief Kinney will be responsible for building the department from the ground up. Starting with one fire station that is currently under construction, Kinney will command Mt. Juliet’s new fire department that will be responsible for fire suppression and rescue. Staffing, training, equipment specification and procurement will also be significant issues in the beginning of his new appointment.

In addition, Mt. Juliet City Manager Kenny Martin felt it was best to select the fire department’s second-in-command during this process. Public Safety Director Andy Garrett also announced that James Luffman was selected as Captain. Luffman is currently a firefighter at Wilson County Emergency Management Agency and a resident of Mt. Juliet. Luffman’s start date is pending final budget approvals.

Both employment offers are conditional pending pre-employment screenings.

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Are you interested in making one too?

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. 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, they are required to undergo training conducted by police instructors in Mt. Juliet two evenings a week and a few Saturdays a month during a 20 week academy slated to begin in April 2013.

The Mt. Juliet Police Department is now accepting applications for Reserve Police Officer. To learn more about the program, the Reserve Program is hosting an information session on Thursday, March 7^th, 2013 at 6:30PM at Mt. Juliet Police Headquarters. Those who are interested in the program and feel they meet the qualifications are more than welcome to attend. If you cannot make the information session, you should contact Sgt. Chandler at (615) 773-6260 for application procedures. The application period will close on Friday, March 15^th, 2013 at 5:00PM.

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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Case: 12-5958 

Date: February 18^th, 2013  Time: 8:15 AM

Location: Interstate 40 Westbound at 224 MM 

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – A ladder on Interstate 40 in Mt. Juliet caused a chain reaction crash and scary situation for motorists, all of which was captured on a Mt. Juliet Police Officer’s in-car video camera. Today around 8:15AM, an officer was dispatched to Interstate 40 West around the 224 mile-marker in regards to a ladder in the roadway. As the officer arrived on the scene, a 26-year-old female driver of a Toyota RAV4 struck a ladder in the road. After striking the ladder, the driver lost control of her vehicle and struck the concrete barrier wall. After striking the wall, the Toyota RAV4 hit a tractor-trailer driven by a 40-year-old male and an Oldsmobile sedan driven by a 68-year-old male. The Toyota RAV4 came to a final rest against the concrete barrier wall.

There were no serious injuries reported with this crash, and all drivers were wearing seat belts. The 26-year-old female was treated and released by medics on the scene, and the 68-year-old man was transported by ambulance to Summit Hospital with very minor injury. The 40-year-old driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured.

Seat belts are certainly the number one protection device for all motorists. The dash cam video certainly shows how dramatic and dangerous a crash can be, and the safest place to be during a crash is strapped to your seat with a seat belt.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Mt. Juliet Police Sergeant Tyler Chandler has been named Employee of the Year for 2012, and Karen Summey was selected as Volunteer of the Year through the annual Sgt. Jerry Mundy Award.

Chandler has been with the Mt. Juliet Police Department for approximately 9 years and Karen Summey for 7 years. They received the awards at tonight’s Board of Commissioner’s meeting at City Hall.

Chandler currently serves on the department’s command staff and directs the police department’s Community Policing unit, which oversees public affairs, community initiatives, and media relations. In addition, he has been instrumental with the department’s new police radio system that is going live in the near future. Summey is a member of the department’s Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association where she is the coordinator for the program. She has dedicated more than 4,000 volunteer hours to the department throughout her many years of service.

 “The Sgt. Jerry Mundy Award is awarded to an employee and volunteer of the year who exemplifies community commitment and dedication that was always inspired by Sgt. Jerry Mundy prior to his line of duty death in 2003,” stated Chief James Hambrick, “This award is given in honor of Sgt. Mundy for his ultimate sacrifice to our community, and both Sgt. Chandler and Mrs. Summey demonstrate true dedication to the City of Mt. Juliet.”

Mt. Juliet Police employees nominated coworkers for the Employee of the Year award, and Police Chief James Hambrick and Public Safety Director Andy Garrett reviewed the nominations and selected each winner. The Volunteer of the Year award was selected by the police department’s command staff.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The Mt. Juliet Police Department is pleased to announce a new service that provides the community with the ability to obtain their traffic crash police reports online for free. Not only does the service improve the cost effectiveness and efficiencies of the department’s Records division, it is more convenient to the community and insurance industry.

In an effort to reduce the inconvenience to those involved in traffic crashes and continuing to provide the best community service possible, the City of Mt. Juliet’s Information Technology department partnered with PoliceReport.US, LLC to implement a new online program for obtaining copies of traffic crash reports. This will reduce the inconvenience for both citizens and insurance companies by allowing the flexibility of getting the reports at their leisure since the program is available 24 hour a day, 7 days a week.

Beginning now, all future Mt. Juliet crash reports generated can be accessed through the following sites:

www.mjpd.org or www.mtjuliettn.policereports.us

In order to download and print copies of the report, you will need to have the case number of the incident or the last name of a party involved and the date of the crash available.

The new service will allow the police department’s Records division to be more efficient and provide an increased level of customer service to our citizens and visitors. Community members will still be able to obtain their reports in person at police headquarters if they prefer.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – During the early morning hours in Mt. Juliet, it is obvious that grinches were on the loose breaking into unlocked vehicles while residents were asleep. The Mt. Juliet Police Department saw a spike in thefts from vehicles that occurred early this morning. Property was stolen from 8 cars that were unlocked. The suspects in each of these thefts took items that were readily carried away. Those items taken include: electronic devices, phones, music players, wallets, and laptops. The thefts primarily occurred in the neighborhoods of Willoughby Station, Willow Creek, Cedar Creek Townhomes, and Stone Hollow in Mt. Juliet.

Vehicle burglaries are crimes of opportunity. However, residents can minimize their chances of being a victim by taking a few simples steps:

•  Keep all car doors and windows closed and locked
• Do not leave anything valuable inside your car
• Park your vehicle in an area that is visible to the public and well-lit at night
• If possible, park your car in the garage

It is also a good idea to keep a list of serial numbers, including the make and model, of commonly used electronic equipment that you may have. This helps in recovering the property haven’t it has been stolen.

If you see something that looks suspicious, call 9-1-1. Suspicious activity may include: A person looking into parked cars who may be looking for a car to steal or to see any valuables in plain view. The sound of breaking glass or a car alarm could mean a vehicle break-in is in-progress. Any vehicle without lights at night, cruising slowly, or following a course that seems aimless or repetitive is suspicious in any location because occupants may be “casing” for a burglary. Persons walking around a neighborhood and pulling on car door handles may be looking for unlocked vehicles to steal from.
Residents are encouraged to call 9-1-1 immediately about all suspicious activity that they may see. We need the community’s eyes and ears to assist with catching these criminals.

Anyone with any information on current investigations or ongoing crime trends 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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Case: 12-95512

Date: December 15th, 2012

Time: 2:30 AM

Location: 700 block of Stonegate Drive (Stonegate Mobile Home Community)

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Early this morning around 2:30AM, Mt. Juliet Police officers responded to a dispatched call of a man threatening to kill himself at a Mt. Juliet home in the 700 block of Stonegate Drive. Officers arrived on the scene and established a safety perimeter around the home. Shortly thereafter, a 56 year-old male subject exited his home carrying a handgun. The subject quickly raised and pointed the gun in the direction of police officers and a bystander. One of the officers responded by firing upon the subject who was hit by the officer’s gunfire during the encounter. The subject was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he is being treated for injuries sustained during the shooting.

During the incident, there were two adult female family members and one male child in the home. They were not aware of the incident until notified by police officers. No one else was injured during this incident.

“This is certainly a traumatic event for the injured subject, his family, and the officers involved. Our thoughts and prayers are extended for a quick recovery,” stated Mt. Juliet Police Chief James Hambrick, “Police officers can go through their entire career and never be involved in this type of incident. This is one of the most difficult things an officer has to do.”

As with all officer-involved shootings, the investigation is being conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The officer involved will be on administrative leave pending the TBI’s investigation, which is also normal protocol.

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Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The Mt. Juliet Police Department is currently accepting applications for their upcoming session of the Citizen Police Academy. The academy provides community members with an inside look at local law enforcement, giving an overview of the police department’s function and operations.

The ten-week academy curriculum and teaching methodology embraces real examples of police work. The weekly sessions, however, are not designed to train participants as police officers. While attending the academy, students will be introduced to a variety of topics and training taught by police officers and special agents. Participants will have the opportunity to gain a variety of knowledge surrounding police work.

The academy begins January 15, 2013. Classes will meet Tuesday evenings from 6:30PM – 8:00PM in Mt. Juliet.

Candidate Minimum Requirements:

• Live, work, or volunteer in the Mt. Juliet area
• Minimum age of 21 years
• No felony convictions
• No significant or recent misdemeanor convictions

Application Process:

Interested candidates can visit the Mt. Juliet Police Department’s website at http://www.cityofmtjuliet.org/citizenacademy.cfm to obtain more information about the Citizen Academy and to complete the application. Applicants who are interested in the upcoming session should apply by January 8th.

If anyone has any questions regarding the upcoming Citizens Police Academy, they can call or email Cpl. Tommy Shelton at (615) 773-6248 or tshelton@cityofmtjuliet.org

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Case: 12-91913

Date: November 30th, 2012

Time: 11:30 AM

Location: 10768 Lebanon Road (Trigreen Equipment)

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The Mt. Juliet Police Department has put an end to a multistate counterfeiting and theft operation that has plagued the whole southeast United States for weeks. This was possible with the help of a local merchant and corporate security partnership that ensured Mt. Juliet Police investigators had proper information to stop the multistate crime spree.

On November 30th, 2012, Mt. Juliet Police investigators acted on information they received from Honda Corporation security of a possible theft that was scheduled to occur sometime that day by an individual using a counterfeit check at Trigreen equipment in Mt. Juliet. Det. David Stolinsky, an investigator with Mt. Juliet Police, was able to gather intelligence from authorities in Arkansas on the suspect’s possible description from an earlier theft that occurred there. Trigreen equipment and Det. Stolinsky developed a plan if the suspect was to arrive at the store. The suspect arrived Friday just before Noon, and Det. Stolinsky observed the suspect purchase several electrical generators with a counterfeit check for $7,665.51. After the suspect completed the transaction and loaded the generators into his vehicle, he was taken into custody by undercover officers waiting in the parking lot of Trigreen. The suspect was identified as Jason Quintanilla, 39, of North Bay Villiage, Florida.

“This is clearly a prime example of a great partnership between private corporations, local merchants, and police,” stated Mt. Juliet Police Chief Andy Garrett, “I’m humbled that Honda Corporation and Trigreen Equipment in Mt. Juliet trusted us with the intelligence that led to this discovery and apprehension.”

Det. Stolinsky’s initial investigation revealed that Quintanilla was not only going to strike Mt. Juliet to steal generators. Quintanilla had plans to hit three other Honda generator dealers in the Nashville-Metro area. Counterfeit checks were ready to be used at Chilton Turf Center in Nashville for $4,258.57, Howard’s Honda in Nashville for $6,578.76, and Honda of Cool Springs in Franklin for $7,236.93. In addition, the Lexus SUV that Quintanilla was driving had a stolen Tennessee license plate on it that was stolen from the Providence MarketPlace area early during the day of his arrest. Quintanilla, who is part of a larger criminal operation, was making the fraudulent purchases for an unnamed individual out of state. The preprinted checks were sent to Quintanilla, and the purchases were planned prior to Quintanilla arriving at the Honda dealers. Quintanilla stated to investigators that the group he is working for is selling the stolen generators in bulk, which are being shipped out of the country. The investigation is still ongoing and intelligence obtained during this incident has been passed to many state and federal authorities who continue pursue suspects related to this criminal operation.

Jason Quintanilla was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail on the following charges:

• Four Counts of Criminal Simulation (TCA 39-14-115) $20,000.00 Bond
• Theft of Property < $500.00 (TCA 39-14-103) $2,000.00 Bond
• Theft of Property > $1,00.00 (TCA 39-14-103) $2,000.00 Bond
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (TCA 39-14-425) $1,000.00 Bond

Quintanilla will appear in court on Wednesday, December 12th, 2012 at 9:00 AM in Wilson County General Sessions.

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