Tag: evading arrest

Erik Valdez-Martinez: Mini Draco, marijuana, & THC cartridges, Oh My!

Diamond Cooper

19-year-old Erik Valdez-Martinez was jailed on March 23rd after fleeing from the police. Detectives conducted surveillance on Elm Pike and observed a black Mercedes Sedan with temp tags that didn’t match the vehicle. Valdez had left a home on Elm Hill Pike with a rifle tucked under his jacket, as well as a bag slung over his shoulder. He got into the back seat of the Mercedes, and they left the location. Detectives and an aviation unit followed the car. The vehicle eventually ended up at Vultee Boulevard, where detectives attempted to initiate a traffic stop.

The vehicle fled from the traffic stop, and spike strips were deployed. As the vehicle continued to flee, aviation updated the vehicle’s location so detectives could follow its path. Valdez fled the vehicle with a black backpack near Kirby Avenue towards Briley Parkway. Detectives chased him on foot, yelling for him to stop. After the foot chase, a search of the backpack yielded three bags of marijuana totaling 87 grams. A box of plastic baggies, six boxes of THC cartridges, and a mini-Draco. He also admitted the 20-round magazine was his for the Draco. Three juveniles were also in the vehicle.

Teanna Gardner & Monterio Taylor jailed after being stopped by spike-strip on roadway

Diamond Cooper

19-year-old Teanna Gardner & 18-year-old Monterio Taylor were jailed for fleeing the police when a traffic stop was initiated on I-24 Saturday night. Police tried to pull over a silver Hyundai Sonata for the left brake light not properly working. The driver of the vehicle, Gardner, fled at high speed. Detectives deployed spike strips which stopped the car before Shelby St. The back seat passenger, Taylor, got out of the car and ran. Police chased him on foot briefly before taking him into custody. It was later found that during the chase, Taylor threw a gun on the side of the interstate to try to get rid of it. There was a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. When officers searched Taylor’s body, they found 10 grams of marijuana.

Brendan Fielder Pitts knocks out roommate in downtown Nashville fight

Wayne Steen

Police say 26-year-old Brendan Fielder Pitts punched his roommate, Alain De Villiers, square in the face at 4th & Demonbreun in downtown Nashville Sunday night. The two reportedly argued about how drunk Brendan was and decided to leave. As Alain called for a ride, his roommate punched him, knocking him unconsciously momentarily. As he continued, Brendan caught up with him and punched him again, throwing him to the ground. Brendan also stole the keys to the house and attempted to flee as police arrived.

Brandon Howard charged with P80 ghost gun and theft of 2022 Camry

Wayne Steen

18-year-old Brandon Howard told police, “I would have dusted y’all!” had it not been for the spike strips they deployed to stop him as he fled in a stolen Toyota Camry late Sunday night. He was driving a 2022 white Toyota Camry that was just stolen from Whites Creek Pike and was being tracked by its owner, who was relaying the information to police. With the assistance of AirOne, all three occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody after short foot pursuits. A P80 ‘ghost gun’ with an automatic switch was found within reach of Howard at the time of his arrest… more details inside

Nery Chajon Franco kicks wife in face while she’s on the toilet; then attacks his son

Wayne Steen

Laura Salazar Gonzales says she was sitting on the toilet when her 35-year-old boyfriend, Nery Chajon Franco, came into the bathroom drunk and kicked her in the face. She says the argument was about who should pick up the children from school. As she fled from the toilet, Nery reportedly followed her while yelling and threatening to kill her. He chased her and her two youngest sons through the front yard, grabbed her hair from behind, and yanked her onto the ground. She says he punched her in the face multiple times and strangled her.

Another of their sons came out of the home and attacked his father with a knife sharpener to try to stop the attack on his mother. He swung at his son three times and missed each time. When officers arrived, Nery attempted to flee and jumped a neighbor’s fence.

Travon Webb charged with grand theft auto after refusing to identify friends in a stolen vehicle

Wayne Steen

18-year-old Travon Webb was one of three individuals that fled from a stolen car as police tracked it in the area of Tremont and 15th Ave South on November 7th. Webb was apprehended a short time later and positively identified by a witness as one of the three inside the vehicle. Webb refused to provide police with any information, so he was charged with the theft of the vehicle (over $60,000). He is free on a $12,000 bond.

Jerome Dooley charged in aggravated assault of his girlfriend using his car; flees while cuffed

Wayne Steen

24-year-old Jerome Dooley is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he followed his girlfriend, Yani Gardley, and began striking her vehicle with his after the two got into an argument at Kroger on Nolensville Pike. He was reportedly upset over a key she had to his apartment. Officers observed damage to the victim’s car and detained Dooley, and handcuffed him, but he then fled the scene while cuffed. He was located a short time later and taken into custody, once again.

Misty Fain assaults husband as he “falls out” of car in downtown Nashville

Wayne Steen

Metro Nashville Police Officers working the downtown district observed David Moore suddenly fall out of the passenger seat of a vehicle driven by his wife, 45-year-old Misty Fain, at the intersection of Korean Veterans Blvd & Hermitage Ave. As he fell out of the vehicle, she put the vehicle in park, then drove forward a few feet, then repeated this a few times until officers activated their emergency equipment, at which time she fled the scene at a high rate of speed, leaving her husband on the ground in the middle of an intersection. The victim explained he was originally driving when they began to argue over the directions to Boot Barn. As the argument escalated, he stopped the car and scooted to the passenger seat as his wife walked around and got in the driver’s seat. At some point, she was yelling and screaming and began to hit and assault him, breaking his glasses. He called 911 and she demanded he exit the car, and he ended up on the ground. Officers documented multiple cuts, scrapes, and scratches to the victim’s face, and broken glasses.

Alejandro Wright rips shirt off in wild rage against girlfriend in downtown Nashville

Wayne Steen

31-year-old Alejandro Grant Wright was at the intersection of 4th & Broadway Saturday when police say he was in a “heated verbal argument” with his girlfriend, Valeria Galvan. He was reportedly irate and causing such a scene that he drew the attention of all the citizens in the immediate downtown area. Wright then ripped off his shirt and walked aggressively at his girlfriend as officers intervened to prevent any physical assault from happening. Galvan says she was in fear of being hurt by Wright.

Street Racer Derrick Vassar free on pre-trial release after police chase [VIDEO]

Wayne Steen

Despite an initial $10,500 bond, 23-year-old Derrick Vassar is free on pre-trial release after fleeing from police working the street racing initiative Friday night. AirOne was surveilling the area near Firestone Parkway and Old Hickory Blvd when Vassar, driving a matte black Chevrolet Corvette, was seen doing donuts in the parking lot of a Thornton’s convenience store [video below], where there was a “sea of vehicles,” according to police, who say Vassar had already fled a traffic stop. As he exited the parking lot, he traversed to I-24 with multiple police vehicles in pursuit with full lights and sirens. AirOne noted that Vasser bailed out of the vehicle on Crossing Place and fled on foot until he was apprehended nearby. Police say he tensed up and pulled away while being arrested, and the tag on the Corvette belonged to a Ford vehicle.