Month: August 2022

TSU Administration knew about football program’s sex scandal since August & ignored it

Jason Steen

Both women in Devon Starling’s life have now gone to jail over him. After Monday’s revelation that Tennessee State Football’s Director of Operations, Ariel Escobar, rammed her car into the vehicle of her part-time lover, Football Player Devon Starling, multiple staff have confirmed the school’s administration knew about the relationship since August, when 22-year-old Mai Kanu, who is Starling’s full-time girlfriend and was in the car when Escobar rammed it, was herself arrested. Police say Kanu came to Starling’s apartment on August 24th, aware he had another woman inside…

Kanu stormed through the door and found the school’s Football Ops Director, Ariel Escobar, romantically entwined with Sterling. She repeatedly struck Sterling in the face, leaving him with multiple visible injuries and swelling. Kanu attacked Escobar, too, pulling her hair and punching her in the face. Escobar did not wish to prosecute to avoid being named in the police report. The following week, records show multiple staff members reported the incident to TSU’s Director of Athletics, Dr. Mikki Allen, who dismissed the reports. Staff also reported Escobar had another sexual relationship with a co-worker, a member of the Football program’s Executive Administration team.

Matt O’Connell tries to get into a home, believing it’s where a girl he’s meeting lives #WrongHouse

Jason Steen

Metro Nashville Police responded to an active burglary alarm at a home on 7th Ave North in downtown Nashville just before 3 a.m. Wednesday. The homeowner reported the man, identified as 36-year-old Matthew Edward O’Connell, was attempting to get into his home. O’Connell, who is a bartender at Jason Aldean’s bar downtown, was extremely intoxicated but explained he believed this was the house he was supposed to be at to visit a woman he had been seeing. Officers had Nashville Fire medics respond to the scene, but Matt O’Connell refused any assistance or transport. Unable to care for himself, he was transported to booking and charged with public intoxication.

Kira Mercedes Joyner charged after shoplifting, assaulting mall security officer at OpryMills

Jason Steen

29-year-old Kira Mercedes McKenzie Joyner was booked this week on outstanding citations from 2020, which she never self-booked on. Police say on December 3rd, 2020, Kira McKenzie Joyner was inside the Hot Topic store at Opry Mills Mall when Mall Security Officer Bailey McCluskey made contact with her as she was reportedly caught shoplifting. As she was being detained and escorted to the mall’s security office, she kicked him on his left leg and began to yell and scream, causing a disturbance to other shoppers in the mall. She was issued state citations for theft and assault and never appeared for them.

Tourist Jordan Jennings charged in assault of Rippy’s Bouncer in downtown Nashville

Jason Steen

23-year-old Jordan Jennings is charged with assaulting security guard Phillip Young at Rippy’s Bar in downtown Nashville. The tourist was issued a citation for assault after being told he had to leave the location due to his behavior but eventually convincing staff to let him back inside to use the restroom. While he was in the restroom, bar staff was informing the rest of his party they also needed to leave the location. As Jennings came out of the restroom, he reportedly struck bouncer Phillip Young on his left shoulder, causing him to call a “code black” over the radio — alerting other bouncers to respond to the area. Young says Jordan swung at him as he was being escorted out once again, and after dodging the impact, he struck Jordan with a closed fist to Jordan’s right eyebrow, leaving a small laceration.

Ladasha Bledsoe & Atalaya Lopez charged after blowing through roadblock, letting it flow.

Jason Steen

23-year-old Atalaya Lopez drove through a barrage of emergency vehicles with flashing lights that were blocking the roadway for a police investigation on Donelson Pike early Monday morning in her Chevy Impala at a very high rate of speed. Officers eventually got the vehicle stopped near Knapp Road and observed her extreme level of intoxication and an open container in her cupholder. While she was being placed into custody for DUI, her passenger, 23-year-old Ladasha Bledsoe, repeatedly got in and out of the vehicle despite being told to stay inside the car. Bledsoe then got out a final time, dropped her pants, and exposed herself to police officers while urinating on the roadway. She was charged with indecent exposure.

Layer Cake says Jack Zuckowsky is extorting them for $6,000 after taking their Instagram account

Jason Steen

One of downtown Nashville’s hottest new concepts, Layer Cake, says downtown resident and already frequent customer, Jack Zuckowsky, is extorting the business for $6,000. #HowdItHappen? They kicked him out for being rowdy, and he took down their Instagram and social media accounts in retaliation. Text messages from the debauchee reveal he offered to restore access to their social media accounts in exchange for a $6,000 rooftop table package. The sweet details are inside…

Jamie Morgan booked on charge of stealing school board campaign signs in Nashville

Jason Steen

45-year-old Jamie Morgan self-booked this week on a citation charging her with the theft of campaign signs of MNPS School Board candidate Todd Pembroke. Police say that after repeated thefts, a tracker was placed inside some of the signs by the campaign, and they were tracked to her address on Anchorage Drive. Police accompanied the candidate to the pinged location and issued her a citation, and retrieved dozens of signs. During that visit, Morgan lifted her shirt and flashed the candidate, made obscene gestures, and caused quite the scene, which was captured on video (below, in story). Morgan stated she did this for “political reasons.” On her social media, Morgan describes herself as a “Nashville based bipolar pagan intuitive; rape, sexual abuse, trauma survivor; retired drunk trying to be a better mom.”

Dustin Dunham was running naked in the city; Elizabeth Carson says not in her neighborhood!

Jason Steen

Elizabeth Lyall Carson called police in a tizzy Tuesday, stating that a “homeless man on drugs and with mental issues” was running naked on the sidewalk near Hillwood High School around 6 p.m. We’re not sure why she believed the man, identified as 35-year-old Dustin Dunham, had mental health issues, was homeless, or was on drugs, but she was adamant about it to police and in dozens of social media comments after she posted his naked photo online. In fact, she says when she drove back by a few minutes later, he was wearing shorts and shoes. When police arrived, he was clothed, so Elizbeth had to become the private prosecutor on the case, and he was charged with indecent exposure. We’re told Carson was “excited and proud” to swear out the warrant on the man, as she shared her adventure to her friends on social media, which includes nearly every judge, politician, and Belle Meade resident in the city.

DUI: David Iturriaga crashes into pole after leaving Alley Pub

Jason Steen

28-year-old David Iturriaga crashed his vehicle in the early hours of Saturday morning after leaving Alley Pub on Hwy 70 South. He told officers he consumed 2-3 alcoholic drinks at the bar prior to leaving and crashing his vehicle into a utility pole, causing the pole and wires to fall to the ground. He would later blow a 0.125% BAC on a breathalyzer as he was booked into custody and charged with DUI.

Adam Stanley bounced from Losers Bar & Grill, but couldn’t stay away

Jason Steen

Metro Nashville Police Officers working the Entertainment District Initiative Saturday night responded to Losers Bar & Grill in downtown Nashville for an altercation between bar staff and 44-year-old Adam L Stanley. Stanley was trespassed from the location and went about his night. A half-hour later, Stanley returned to the location and attempted to enter, despite just being trespassed and told not to return. He was transported to booking and charged with criminal trespass.