Author: Jason Steen

Megan Purcel attacks taxi as her husband attempts to leave her in downtown Nashville

Jason Steen

32-year-old Megan Purcel was observed attempting to climb through the passenger side window of a taxi cab on Broadway in downtown Nashville late July 3rd. As the taxi slowed and came to a stop, she began to kick the vehicle and then climbed onto the hood while yelling at the driver. She stated her husband, Michael Cunningham, was in the back seat of the tax and was trying to leave her. During the commotion, Cunningham exited the taxi and began walking down Broadway, away from the scene. Purcel was taken into custody and charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Her husband was later also charged with public intoxication.

Michael Cunningham jailed after attempting to leave wife in downtown Nashville

Jason Steen

32-year-old Michael Cunningham was in the rear of a taxi cab in downtown Nashville when he attempted to leave his wife, Megan Purcel, late July 3rd. Purcel was observed attempting to climb through the passenger side window of a taxi cab on Broadway. As the taxi slowed and came to a stop, she began to kick the vehicle and then climbed onto the hood while yelling at the driver. Purcel stated her husband, Michael Cunningham, was in the back seat of the tax and was trying to leave her. During the commotion, Cunningham exited the tax and began to walk away from the scene on Broadway. Officers caught up with him, reported he reeked of alcohol and determined that he was unable to care for himself. Cunningham was taken into custody and charged with public intoxication. His wife was booked on separate charges.

DUI: Michael Smith found passed out in parking garage, tells police he had been “drinking all day”

Jason Steen

30-year-old Michael Smith was found passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle at a downtown parking garage late July 2nd. He was so unresponsive that the Nashville Fire Department had to remove him from his car by breaking the windows. Once he became semi-responsive, he stated he had been “drinking all day,” so he couldn’t have been driving. Officers noted that the vehicle was running, and the keys were located in his pocket. Officers said Smith would become coherent and ask why he was being arrested. After officers explained the situation to him, he would fall back asleep. This interaction was repeated at least seven times. Smith’s girlfriend also responded to the scene and confirmed he had been drinking. Officers had to air out their vehicles due to the intense alcohol smell coming from Smith after he was detained. Smith was taken into custody and charged with DUI on July 3rd. Video from the building later showed him side-swiping his left mirror on the yellow barriers of the garage as he entered.

Underage DUI: Christina Lytle, 20, blows over double legal limit after crash, drinking on ice

Jason Steen

20-year-old Christina Lytle, daughter of John & Lorie Lytle, crashed her vehicle on Hickory Hollow Parkway late Tuesday night. She claimed she was attempting to avoid a vehicle that had already crashed in the ditch. As officers spoke with Lytle, they observed visible signs of intoxication, and she admitted to consuming tequila drinks while ice skating and also having vodka in a water bottle while ice skating. She performed poorly on field sobriety tests and was taken into custody. She randomly broke into tears and repeated herself multiple times en route to booking, where she blew a 0.195% BAC on a breathalyzer.

DUI: Stefanie Fair, Momfluencer & wife of music mogul Ron Fair, arrested in Nashville

Jason Steen

51-year-old Stefanie Fair, wife of music mogul Ron Fair, was jailed late Sunday, charged with driving under the influence. THP Trooper Velez was finishing up a traffic stop near Armory Drive and walking back to his patrol car when a vehicle driven by Stefanie Fair passed him without moving over or slowing down. The trooper engaged lights and sirens and followed Fair, who eventually pulled over after an extended period of time. When educating her about the move-over law violation, she reportedly reeked of alcohol and had watery, bloodshot eyes. She denied drinking any alcoholic beverages and stated she had just returned from the Ice Cream Parlor, where she was visiting her daughter. She exited the vehicle to speak to the trooper, and the aroma of alcohol followed her. She performed poorly on field sobriety tests and was taken into custody for DUI. Fair is most recently known for her appearance on Bravo‘s series There Goes The Motherhood!

Drunk in Public: Brentwood teen Burton ‘Gage’ Verner jailed after resisting arrest & using fake ID

Jason Steen

18-year-old Brentwood resident, Burton ‘Gage’ Verner, was jailed late June 1st after causing a commotion that got the attention of parks police. Verner attempted to walk away from officers as they approached him but eventually gave them a fake Virginia ID and stated he was 21. Officers began to run the identification, and Gage tried to resist arrest and flee from the scene. He was eventually brought to the ground by officers and detained. Burton ‘Gage’ Verner was charged with public intoxication, resisting arrest, and use of false identification on June 2nd.

Tourist Rebekah Schrum spits on Nashville Sheriff’s Officer & punches security guard in face

Jason Steen

23-year-old tourist Rebekah Schrum was being escorted out of Rippy’s Honky Tonk in downtown Nashville late May 31st when a Metro Nashville Police Officer observed her punch a security guard square in the face with a closed fist. Staff say she had become unruly and attempted to enter the back of the bar, resulting in her ejection. Officers transported her to booking, where she then bit a Davidson County Sheriff’s Department officer who attempted to pick her up for processing. Rebekah Schrum was taken into custody for disorderly conduct and assault of an officer on June 1st.

Nicholas Bahe charged with BUI after sunset on Percy Priest Lake

Jason Steen

40-year-old Nicholas Bahe was reportedly operating a vessel on Percy Priest Lake on May 31st after sunset without the proper anchor light and with obscured navigational lights. According to TWRA Officer Clay Hetland, he observed this and activated his emergency equipment, stopping the vessel. He interviewed Bahe about the violations and observed the smell of alcohol coming from Bahe, who admitted to drinking while on the lake. Bahe performed poorly on field sobriety testing while aboard the TWRA vessel and was transported to booking after a stop at Summit Medical Center for a blood draw. Bahe was taken into custody for boating under the influence and a boating violation on June 1st.

Nathan Ryan charged in assault of girlfriend at Play Dance Bar in downtown Nashville

Jason Steen

19-year-old Nathan Ryan was observed arguing with his girlfriend, Mia Grass, outside of Nashville’s premier gay dance club, Play Dance Bar, just before closing time Sunday morning on Church Street in downtown Nashville. He placed his hands on the victim as officers attempted to intervene in the domestic disturbance. Nearby security also demanded he take his hands off the victim. Ryan was detained, but while attempting to get a statement, he fled from officers on foot. He eventually returned to the scene and was taken into custody. The victim says the two argued after he got too close to her, and she shoved him away to create distance. He then reportedly pushed her back to a wall and held her there. He claimed she hit him first, and he was only defending himself. Statements from security and police determined him to be the primary aggressor, and he was taken into custody and transported to booking.

Canceled: Morgan Wallen’s bar can’t open — no beer permit granted

Jason Steen

Fans of Morgan Wallen will have to wait even longer to drink at his new “This Bar and Tennessee Kitchen,” which was scheduled to open during this Memorial Day Weekend in downtown Nashville. Though the social media for the bar was still advertising the grand opening as of Friday afternoon, a representative from the restaurant group confirmed to Scoop: Nashville an opening would not happen. In recent weeks, the Nashville Beer Board denied both a catering permit and a temporary permit for the location, as Fire & Codes had also not issued any approvals. In addition to the loss of their sign, which was not approved by Metro Council, it’s been a rocky start for the chair-throwing musician. Approval of permits from multiple departments could delay the opening by several more weeks.