Nashville Sheriff Corporal BJ Hayes charged after punching & strangling inmate

31-year-old Bryson ‘BJ’ Hayes, who is a Corporal at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, was jailed Monday on an outstanding felony warrant charging him with the felony aggravated assault and strangulation of an inmate in December. DCSO Investigators turned over video surveillance of the incident to Metro Nashville Police Detectives earlier this year. Police say the video clearly shows an inmate spitting on Hayws on two separate occasions. After the second occasion, Hayes begins to punch the inmate with a closed fist and throws him to the ground, where he places him in a chokehold restraint position. The victim told investigators he had trouble breathing while being restrained with the officer’s hands around his neck. During an interview, Hayes admitted to strangling the inmate and agreed he used unapproved tactics in response to the situation. Police interviewed multiple employees who also witnessed the incident.  

Gayland Thompson charged in brutal strangulation of girlfriend in Antioch

28-year-old Gayland Thompson is charged with the aggravated assault/strangulation of his girlfriend, Ashleigh Dotson. She says Gayland became upset when he observed her get a ride to his apartment in a vehicle that he did not recognize. He demanded to search her phone, and she refused. Gayland then reportedly shoved her on top of a bed and sat on top of her while using his right hand to choke her until she couldn’t breathe for several seconds, demanding her phone the entire time. She eventually kicked him off the bed momentarily until he stood back up and punched her on the legs, chest, and arms, causing significant bruising and injuries. She sought treatment at the hospital; however, MNPD was unable to send any officers, causing her to return home to call to make a report, at which time a warrant was issued for his arrest.

44-year-old Elizabeth Barnard parties like it’s 2003 in downtown Nashville

Metro Nashville Police responded to the Tin Roof bar on Broadway to find 44-year-old Elizabeth Marie Barnard extremely intoxicated and having difficulty standing upright while reeking of alcohol. A Nashville Fire medic cart transported her to the staging area at 1st & Broadway, where she was being transitioned to an NFD ambulance for transport. She became combative with first responders, cursing at them and sticking her fingers in the face of medics. She then refused all treatment and medical care and was taken into custody for public intoxication.

NOTE: Davidson County Sheriff’s Department staff at the mobile booking unit decided not to take her mugshot in her extreme state of intoxication, instead relying on a two-decade-old mugshot from 2003 related to a driver’s license issue— a courtesy not afforded to other drunken downtown partygoers — to suffice as the current mugshot. A representative of Sheriff Daron Hall’s Office says “it was a misunderstanding” that they neglected to take a current mugshot during an arrest.

Inmate Arerion Thompson charged with indecent exposure from inside Nashville Jail shower

33-year-old inmate Arerion Thompson, who is currently serving time inside the Metro Nashville Jail, was booked on a new criminal charge this week of indecent exposure to a guard/staff member. DCSO Officer Lakeisha Henderson says she was working an assigned post inside the Downtown Detention Center, and while sitting at her computer she noticed Thompson was pleasuring himself while taking a shower with the curtain partially open, with a direct line of sight to Henderson. She asked him to close the curtain, and he did not do so. She then charged him with indecent exposure.

Woman to Nashville Cop: “I’ll get away with it cause I’m white” — Tammera Lee arrested

Police say 42-year-old Tammera Lee drove her vehicle into a secured DCSO facility parking lot behind a staff member on S. 5th Street. Police were alerted when the unknown woman appeared to be heavily intoxicated. Officer Ronald Conner responded and Lee admitted to drinking prior to driving and responded with a “Fuck You!” when asked to perform field sobriety tests. She continued to be belligerent with the officer as he noticed several alcoholic beverages in plain sight within her vehicle. As she was informed she was being arrested for DUI, she replied “I’ll get away with it cause I’m white” according to the arrest report.

Titans’ player Alvin ‘Bud’ Dupree booked on criminal assault charge — full details & mugshot

29-year-old Alvin ‘Bud’ Dupree has been formally booked on the criminal charge of assault. The citation was initially issued to him after a January incident at a North Nashville Walgreens store after a Sunday night game. He was given an extension on his original booking date earlier this month and has now been processed on the charge by the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.

Man pulls gun on girlfriend when phone rings at 3 a.m. — Ralph Frierson arrested

In mid-January, Octavia Evans says she was sleeping at her boyfriend’s house on Bank Street when her phone rang a 3:40 a.m. from a female friend. Her boyfriend, 29-year-old Ralph Frierson, heard her talking and reportedly came into the room demanding to know who she was speaking to, convinced it was another man. She says she explained it was one of her girlfriends, but he pulled out a black handgun and threatened to kill her if she didn’t immediately leave his home. She says as she was grabbing her things he placed the gun to her head and told her to exit via the rear door.

DUI: Woman had ‘2 Long Island Teas’ before blowing 0.117 BAC — Patricia Herbert arrested

53-year-old Patricia Herbert told police she had two Long Island Iced Teas before driving in the early hours of Sunday when she crashed near Union Bridge Rd & Sneed Rd. Officers say she was unsteady on her feet and had slurred speech, and she would eventually blow a 0.117% BAC on a breathalyzer.

Olivia Cooper Simmons arrested in FGL House Brawl in downtown Nashville

23-year-old Olivia Cooper Simmons faces a multitude of charges after police arrived at the FGL House bar in downtown Nashville and found her clothing covered in the blood of a person they say she had just assaulted. The female victim was still bleeding profusely from the face when police arrived at the bar. Once at booking, Simmons attempted to shatter the patrol car window with her boot and cracked the door panel, and tried to kick and bite the officers. Her booking had to be delayed due to her aggressive behavior.

Nashville Sheriff suspends all non-essential intakes into jail due to COVID outbreak

Effective Sunday, January 16, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the jail, will only accept admissions directly from “street arrests” as deemed necessary that can’t be resolved by a citation by the arresting agency. All intake services are suspended until further notice for federal sleepover inmates, those serving weekend time, “hold for court” only, prisoner transports, and any other “wait to report” type admissions. Direct arrests from the courts may still be accepted.

If you are scheduled to serve weekend time please call 615-862-8367 to reschedule. NOTE: Citation booking & release is not impacted, as this is a function of the courts, which are still continuing operation at this time. 42% of the current 1,614 inmates are either a confirmed positive COVID case or awaiting confirmation of a test result.