Mt. Juliet Police Newsroom

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Around 11:00 a.m. Mt. Juliet Police officers were summoned to a home in the 1000 block of Weston Drive to investigate the deaths of a man and woman. Upon arrival, officers found two adults deceased with wounds consistent with gunshots. Police were notified by a family member, who located the man and woman inside the home. Investigators with the Mt. Juliet Police are on the scene conducting a thorough investigation. Officers are not actively searching for suspects at this time.

1/21/14 1:20 p.m. Update:

An autopsy will be performed on the man and woman who were found deceased. Identities and manner of death will not be released until the autopsy is completed. The deceased were residents of the home. At this time, investigators do not feel that they should be actively searching for suspects, and there is no current danger to the public .

###

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Around 11:00 a.m. Mt. Juliet Police officers were summoned to a home in the 1000 block of Weston Drive to investigate the deaths of a man and woman. Upon arrival, officers found two adults deceased with wounds consistent with gunshots. Police were notified by a family member, who located the man and woman inside the home. Investigators with the Mt. Juliet Police are on the scene conducting a thorough investigation. Officers are not actively searching for suspects at this time.

1/21/14 1:20 p.m. Update:

An autopsy will be performed on the man and woman who were found deceased. Identities and manner of death will not be released until the autopsy is completed. The deceased were residents of the home. At this time, investigators do not feel that they should be actively searching for suspects, and there is no current danger to the public .

###

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Mt. Juliet Animal Services is urging citizens to consider the safety of pets during cold weather. Very cold weather is moving into the area, and pet owners must ensure that their furry family members stay warm.

“There is a slight misconception where people think pets are comfortable in cold weather because they have fur for protection against the cold,” stated Animal Services Director Dawn Ambrose. “However, regardless of how thick an animal’s fur is, below freezing temperatures can be very dangerous for any pet.”

It is always best to keep pets indoors. If they need to be outside, they should have adequate shelter that protects them from being exposed to the very cold temperatures. If animals are exposed to the cold for a lengthy period of time, they will become susceptible to hypothermia. Hypothermia is most likely occur when an animal is wet and cold.  A veterinarian should be consulted immediately if a pet is violently shivering followed by listlessness, apathy, a temperature below 97 degrees, and finally, collapse and coma.

Mt. Juliet’s Animal Control officers frequently find pets without shelter or living in an inadequate shelter. For example, they found a dog living out of clothes dryer, which is definitely not adequate for cold weather. Mt. Juliet Animal Services can be contacted at (615) 773-5533 if someone feels that a pet is being neglected.

If people have to bundle up for the cold weather, then pets need to be protected, too.

A few simple steps can help protect your animals during cold temperatures:

• Keep pets inside. If animals can’t be inside, provide a warm, comfortable place. Face shelter away from wind and provide a flap or door to help keep the animal’s body heat inside.
• Bedding is essential for insulation. It protects the animal from the snow and ice underneath the body and allows the animal to retain heat within the bedding.
• Cats may sleep under the hoods of cars to stay warm. If you have outdoor cats in your area, check under the hood before starting your car.
• Keep your pets secure in fencing or use a leash. Pets can lose their sense of smell and direction in the snow and ice, so they can become lost.
• Wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach after being outdoors to remove any ice, salt or chemicals.
• Outdoor pets need more calories to produce body heat so extra food and water must be provided. Devices are now available to keep water dishes from freezing; if one is not available, fill and replace water frequently.

Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter on Facebook

###

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Mt. Juliet Police investigators are trying to identify a man who used a stolen credit card. On December 6, 2013 the unidentified suspect purchased over $600.00 in merchandise with a stolen card from Best Buy in Mt. Juliet. Later the suspect attempted to use the stolen card at Target, but was unsuccessful. Target’s surveillance system captured the suspect entering the store. The suspect appears to be a black male, who is around 25-40 years old, 6 foot tall, and having an average body build. Investigators hope someone in the community will recognize this suspect from the surveillance photos.

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/ .

###

December 31, 2013 Update:

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Mt. Juliet Police investigators have located the person-of-interest in the incident involving unusual contact with an 8-year-old female on December 29, 2013. After hearing and watching the various media reports of the incident, the subject realized that he could possibly be the person-of-interest police were looking for and proactively contacted investigators about the incident. There will not be any criminal charges, and a thorough investigation revealed that this was a misinterpretation of the subject’s intentions. The investigation revealed that the child fell off of a bike near the subject, and he checked on her well-being. The way the subject acted during the contact could have been easiliy misinterpreted, and he could have used better judgement. However, investigators are confident that the subject did not have malicious intentions.

###

Original Media Release:

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Yesterday afternoon around 3:00 p.m., Mt. Juliet Police officers were summoned to the 200 block of Ridgeview Preserve Drive in reference to a suspicious person call. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a mother who stated a white male made unusual conversation with her daughter when she was playing outside.

A man spoke to the 8-year-old female and made a request for her to get in his car. The mother, who witnessed the car near her daughter, yelled for her daughter to get away from him. As the suspicious person was leaving the neighborhood, he yelled to the mother that her daughter did the “right thing”.

“At this time, we have no idea what the suspicious person’s intentions were,” stated Captain Michael Mullins. “It is certainly unusual for the suspicious person to allegedly act the way he did, and we want to ensure parents in our community are aware of his description.”

The suspicious person was described as a middle-aged white male with gray hair. He was driving a gray newer-model Chevrolet Malibu or Impala. The car had extra antennas mounted on the exterior and a dog kennel in the back seat area. In addition, the person had a dog with him.

“Parents should always be aware of where their children are and teach them what to do around strangers,” stated Sergeant Tyler Chandler. “The mother in this incident was nearby and supervising her daughter. She noticed something did not seem right and immediately called the child to her.”

For information on child safety and prevention, visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website at http://www.missingkids.com/safety .

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/ .

Map of Incident Location

###

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Yesterday afternoon around 3:00 p.m., Mt. Juliet Police officers were summoned to the 200 block of Ridgeview Preserve Drive in reference to a suspicious person call. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a mother who stated a white male made unusual conversation with her daughter when she was playing outside.

A man spoke to the 8-year-old female and made a request for her to get in his car. The mother, who witnessed the car near her daughter, yelled for her daughter to get away from him. As the suspicious person was leaving the neighborhood, he yelled to the mother that her daughter did the “right thing”.

“At this time, we have no idea what the suspicious person’s intentions were,” stated Captain Michael Mullins. “It is certainly unusual for the suspicious person to allegedly act the way he did, and we want to ensure parents in our community are aware of his description.”

The suspicious person was described as a middle-aged white male with gray hair. He was driving a gray newer-model Chevrolet Malibu or Impala. The car had extra antennas mounted on the exterior and a dog kennel in the back seat area. In addition, the person had a dog with him.

“Parents should always be aware of where their children are and teach them what to do around strangers,” stated Sergeant Tyler Chandler. “The mother in this incident was nearby and supervising her daughter. She noticed something did not seem right and immediately called the child to her.”

For information on child safety and prevention, visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website at http://www.missingkids.com/safety .

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/ .

Map of Incident Location

###

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The day after Christmas, Mt. Juliet Police arrested a real Grinch after he was located in a car he stole on Christmas day. As the stolen car victim was dropping off gifts at a home in west Tennessee, the offender took the opportunity to steal the car. Since the vehicle was left unlocked and running, it made for an easy steal. The offender, identified as Alex Cartwright, 24, of Memphis, was found sleeping in the car in Mt. Juliet.

Sergeant Fulton, who was investigating a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area, spotted the stolen 2011 Mitsubishi Gallant parked behind the Sprint store on Adam’s Lane around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.  Fulton was not immediately aware of it being stolen, but a quick computer check alerted Fulton that car was stolen. The victim reported the car stolen to Collierville Police Department, and they entered the vehicle’s information into a national database so other law enforcement agencies would be aware.

“Reports of suspicious behavior from citizens is very useful,” said Police Chief James Hambrick. “We were alerted of the suspicious behavior by a citizen, and it gave us the opportunity to take a thief off the streets.”

Fulton and other officers approached the stolen car and found Cartwright sleeping in the back seat. The investigation revealed that Cartwright stole the car and stopped in Mt. Juliet to beg for money. He was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail on a $15,000 bond, charged with Theft of Property. He is scheduled to appear in court on January 9, 2014.

###

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – An early morning traffic stop resulted in the discovery of materials used in Methamphetamine manufacturing . On Wednesday, December 18 around 4:30 a.m. a Mt. Juliet Police officer conducted a traffic stop on Buick SUV on Clearview Drive. A search of the vehicle resulted in locating chemicals and materials commonly associated with a methamphetamine lab. The driver, 27-year-old James Fintel of Mt. Juliet, was arrested and charged with Manufacture of Methamphetamine and Aggravated Child Endangerment. Investigators discovered additional methamphetamine materials inside his nearby home where a small child lived.  The Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force Clandestine Lab Response team was called in to dismantle and safely remove the dangerous, volatile chemicals. Fintel was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail on a $25,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on April 4, 2014.

“Methamphetamine is an extremely dangerous drug,” said Police Captain Michael Mullins. “The patrol officer did his job well, looked beyond the initial traffic stop, and discovered dangerous materials that could have placed others at risk.”

###

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – Additional Mt. Juliet Police Officers will hit the streets on the evening of Friday, December 27, 2013 in an effort to curb impaired driving and impaired-related crashes. Sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols will be conducted in the Lebanon Road, Mt. Juliet Road, West Division St, and Belinda Parkway areas that evening. In addition, Mt. Juliet Police will be assisting the Tennessee Highway Patrol in a multi-agency effort to curb impaired driving on New Year’s eve.

Mt. Juliet, Tenn – Three shoplifters, who continue to strike area retailers, are wanted by Mt. Juliet Police.  On Friday, December 6, the group targeted Best Buy in the Providence MarketPlace development and stole over $1000.00 in merchandise. Officers were able to gather their getaway vehicle description, and it was relayed to surrounding agencies. The following day a vigilant Franklin Police Officer stopped the getaway vehicle, and it led to the shoplifting trio’s identity. Courtney Brown, 30, of Madison, Charlotte Hartsell, 26, of Nashville, and Robert Hartsell, 31, of Woodbury, are all wanted by Mt. Juliet Police for Theft of Merchandise from Best Buy.

“We take crime in our city very seriously, and we have an extremely low tolerance for criminals who chose to operate in our area,” said Police Chief James Hambrick. “When criminals flee our city, we do everything we can to ensure they are apprehended and placed behind bars.”

Surveillance video captures Courtney Brown and Charlotte Hartsell walking through the store and placing merchandise in shopping baskets. As they completed their selection, they both moved closer to the front doors for a quick exit. They are captured on video darting out the front doors. Brown nearly tramples over a child during his escape. Robert Hartsell remained out in front of the store, and he ensured the automatic doors were open so a quick escape could be made.

“Criminals can flee out of our city, but that does not mean we stop at our city boundaries,” stated Police Captain Michael Mullins. “We make every attempt to apprehend criminals who commit crimes in our community.”

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/ .

###