Last weekend’s Operation Safer Streets gang enforcement initiative, which took place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, resulted in 71 arrests involving six felonies, 72 misdemeanors and 33 outstanding warrants. Seized were 31.2 grams of marijuana and 108 pills.

At least three times a week, officers and supervisors representing each of the seven precincts and the Specialized Investigations Division (SID) partner together to implement strategies to combat gang crime and activities in various areas of Nashville.

Friday’s enforcement consisted of six SID detectives, six supervisors, 20 patrol officers and one canine officer. Areas targeted were the James Cayce public housing development, Gallatin Pike, Rio Vista Drive, Due West Avenue, and 10th Avenue North at Jefferson Street.

Saturday’s enforcement consisted of four SID detectives, seven supervisors, 25 patrol officers and two canine officers. Areas targeted were Edgehill Avenue, Argyle Avenue, Paragon Mills Road, the 800 block of Murfreesboro Pike, 40th Avenue North at Clifton Avenue, Tulip Grove Road, and the J.C. Napier public housing development.

Sunday’s enforcement consisted of seven SID detectives, three supervisors, two CID detectives and two patrol officers. Areas targeted were University Court, the J.C. Napier public housing development, Tampa Drive, Harding Place, Apache Trail, and Haywood Lane.

So far this year, Operation Safer Streets has resulted in 1,404 arrests on 87 felony charges and 1,365 misdemeanor charges, nine gun seizures, the service of 440 outstanding warrants, 167 field interviews of persons believed to have gang knowledge and 6,161 vehicle stops in areas with a gang presence.

South Precinct detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the gunman who Saturday night robbed the Subway at 769 Bell Road.

The robber entered the restaurant at 8:40 p.m. and demanded cash from the clerk at gunpoint. He fled on foot.

The suspect is described as a black man in his late teens with dreadlocks pulled back into a ponytail. He is approximately 6’1” tall with a thin build. He wore a yellow hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect from the attached surveillance photos is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME. Citizens can also send an electronic tip to Crime Stoppers by texting the word “CASH” along with their message to 274637 (CRIMES) or online at www.nashvillecrimestoppers.com. Persons who contact Crime Stoppers by phone, text or Internet can remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward.

Shoney’s 5K Family Fun Run benefiting the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department is set for Saturday morning, June 2, at LP Field, two weeks from tomorrow. Participants will include Nashville area run & walk enthusiasts of all ages and police officer trainees (who will run in formation).

“Shoney’s is pleased once again to sponsor this event that unites runners and families from across the mid-state region to raise money for a great cause: the Nashville Police Department Support Fund,” said Davoudpour. “We look forward to bringing the community together for an exciting day and to show appreciation for the men and women who protect us.”

Chief Steve Anderson said the Family Fun Run is an important annual event that strengthens the bond and partnership between the police department and the Nashville community as a whole.

“The Shoney’s Run provides an opportunity for us to showcase major elements of the police department to Nashville’s families,” Anderson said. “At the same time, 100% of the race proceeds will go to a special fund established within the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to fund higher education opportunities and other advanced training programs for Metro officers.”

The Family Fun Run & Festival will be based in LP Field’s Lot T, which is adjacent to the Shelby Street Bridge. Registration for the run will begin at 6 a.m. and the 5K will start at 7 a.m. The 3.1 mile route includes parts of downtown. There will be a Kids’ Fun Run/Walk following the race. A registration form accompanies this media release. A form is also available by logging onto:www.shoneys5krun.com.

Prizes for the 5K top finishers in the male and female categories are $250 cash. Male and female first place winners in each age category will receive a $25 Shoney’s gift card. Second place winners in each age category will receive a $10 Shoney’s gift card. The age categories include 9 and under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65 and up. All participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt. Children participating in the Kids’ Fun Run will receive a goodie bag. Participants will also be provided complimentary beverages and fruit at the finish line.

The festival, featuring live entertainment, random drawings and refreshments, will begin immediately after the run. A variety of Metro police equipment will be on display, including a police helicopter, SWAT gear, Bomb Squad vehicles, a bomb robot and a police boat.

The Kids’ Zone will include free activities, such as face painting, giant inflatables, games and an appearance by Shoney Bear.

Metro police are searching for 15-year-old who escaped police custody Tuesday morning.

Santonio Jenkins was being transported by an employee of Omni Visions from Nashville's Juvenile Justice Center to a facility in Shelby County when he jumped out of the car on First Avenue North at Spring Street around 10:15 a.m.

Omni Visions contracts with the state of the Tennessee.

Jenkins is black with a heavy build and spiky hair.

He was wearing leg shackles, blue sweat pants and a white shirt at the time of his escape.

Click here for full article, courtesy of WKRN Nashville News 2

SWAT officers assigned to the Special Response Team Monday night arrested murder suspect John Travis Baker at a home in the 1600 block of Essex Avenue.

Baker, 27, is under indictment for the December 14, 2011 shooting death of Calvin Davis, Jr., 27, outside his apartment in the Noah’s Landing complex on Murfreesboro Pike. Hermitage Precinct detectives had been searching for Baker since his indictment last Friday on charges of first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery. Baker’s bond was set by a Criminal Court judge at $750,000.

Operation May Day, an undercover effort led by Hermitage Precinct detectives Friday night and over the weekend to take eleven indicted murder or attempted murder suspects off of Nashville’s streets, has presently led to the apprehension of all but two.

The eleven suspects are each charged in one of three separate and unrelated homicide cases, two from 2011 and one from this year, or a violent home invasion robbery last October. The Davidson County Grand Jury returned sealed indictments against the eleven on Friday.

Investigations by Detectives Johnny Crumby, Andrew Injaychock and Andrew Vallee resulted in the ultimate identification and indictment of the suspects in these cases:

March 24, 2011 murder of Avery Hernandez, 18, outside a Nashboro Village apartment building

Officers responded to a shots fired call at 1:30 a.m. and discovered Hernandez slumped over the steering wheel of a Mercury Marquis in the 300 block of Village Green Drive.

Indicted in this case is:

Terrell Fields, 25, of 2622 Weatherford Street, Lavergne (Rutherford County). Fields was arrested Friday night at his residence. His bond was set by a Criminal Court Judge at $750,000.

December 14, 2011 murder of Calvin Davis, Jr., 27, outside his apartment in the Noah’s Landing complex on Murfreesboro Pike

Davis, who was known to sell marijuana, was fatally wounded during a confrontation with individuals in the breezeway outside his apartment. He ran to a sidewalk where he collapsed and died. A baggie of marijuana was recovered from the breezeway.

Indicted in this case are:

Brandon Horton, 22, of 23rd Avenue North, who is presently incarcerated in the Sumner County Jail.

Daniel White, 20, of Jackson Street. White was arrested late Friday night at S. 8th Street near S. 8th Court. His bond on the murder case was set by a Criminal Court judge at $750,000. White is also charged with possessing felony amounts of cocaine at the time of his arrest.

Joshua Holt, 19, of Forest Park Road in Madison. Holt was arrested Friday at his residence. His bond was set by a Criminal Court judge at $750,000.

John Travis Baker, 27, who is last known to have lived in the 3700 block of Village Trail. BAKER, A CONVICTED HOME BURGLAR, REMAINS AT LARGE. ANYONE SEEING HIM OR KNOWING HIS WHEREABOUTS IS URGED TO CONTACT CRIME STOPPERS.

January 5, 2012 murder of Jason Covington, Jr., 17, on University Court in the Tony Sudekum public housing development

Witnesses reported that Covington was watching several girls argue on the sidewalk when a gunman approached, asked Covington who he was, and then shot him.

Indicted in this case are:

Donald Peoples, 19, of Heiman Street. Peoples was taken into custody Friday on Clarksville Pike. A semi-automatic pistol was recovered at the time of Peoples’ arrest. His bond was set by a Criminal Court judge at $750,000.

Cordell D. Clark, 19, of Garfield Street. Clark was taken into custody Friday on Charles E. Davis Boulevard at Green Street. He is also charged with possessing a felony amount of cocaine and misdemeanor quantity of marijuana at the time of his arrest. His bond on the murder case was set by a Criminal Court judge at $750,000.

Donnetha Lewis, 22, of 2400 Buena Vista Pike. Lewis was arrested Friday at her residence. Her bond was set by a Criminal Court judge at $250,000.

Gabrielle Holmes, 23, of Trailwood Circle. HOLMES REMAINS AT LARGE. ANYONE SEEING HER OR KNOWING HER WHEREABOUTS IS URGED TO CONTACT CRIME STOPPERS.

October 20, 2011critical shooting of Earl Kelly, 25, who suffered a head wound while sitting inside his 2717 Nodyne Drive home in Donelson

Kelly was sitting inside the living room with three friends when a gunman rushed through the front door and ordered everyone to the ground. The gunman called Kelly by name, ordered him to get up and demanded to know where the money was. Kelly’s mother was ordered from the kitchen to the living room. Kelly wound up fighting the gunman and was very critically wounded by a gunshot to his head.

Arrested in the case on November 8, 2011 was Johnnie Frank Newsom, 22, who was charged with attempted first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, especially aggravated burglary and aggravated kidnapping.

Now indicted on the same charges are:

Michael T. McDade, 22, of Old Lebanon Dirt Road. McDade was arrested Friday evening at the Mt. Juliet restaurant where he worked. A Criminal Court judge has set McDade’s bond at $100,000.

Marcus J. Short, 22, of 2390 Bellevue Manor Drive. Short surrendered himself at police headquarters just after 11 a.m. today. A Criminal Court judge has set Short’s bond at $100,000.

“The outstanding police work tied to these time consuming and complex investigations has, without a doubt, taken several dangerous persons off the streets and enhanced the safety of several communities,” Chief Steve Anderson said.

The coordinated effort to bring these individuals into custody involved a number of Hermitage Precinct components, SWAT officers, the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force, the police department’s Gang Unit and the Central Precinct’s Crime Suppression Unit.

Terrell Fields

Brandon Horton

Daniel White

Joshua Holt

John Travis Baker

Donald Peoples

Cordell D. Clark

Donnetha Lewis

Gabrielle Holmes

Michael T. McDade

Marcus J. Short

A total of 64 persons took advantage of the two-day Failure to be Booked Self-Surrender Program. Fifty-eight failure to be booked arrest warrants were recalled. Thirty-four additional outstanding warrants were served.

Thirteen persons surrendered May 4. Fifty-one persons came in May 5.

Persons who had received misdemeanor citations for offenses such as driving without a license, criminal trespassing, drug possession or any other minor crime, but who neglected to be booked on the date specified on the citation, were able to see their failure to be booked arrest warrants recalled by taking advantage of this special initiative. Judges, assistant public defenders and assistant district attorneys were also on hand during the two days to help resolve the charges that resulted in the citations in the first place.

Joining the police department in taking part in this program were the Criminal Court Clerk’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, Davidson County Sheriff’s Office and the General Sessions Court.

Detectives Sunday morning charged off-duty West Precinct officer Brandon D. Smith with misdemeanor domestic assault after his girlfriend alleged that Smith struck her in the face during an argument at his South Nashville apartment.

The 29-year-old woman said the argument began while the couple was at a Bellevue pub and continued after they left. She called police from Smith’s apartment to report being assaulted.

Smith, 35, is a four-year police department veteran. His police authority has been suspended and he is now the subject of a separate but parallel administrative investigation.

Smith’s bond was set at $1,000.

As part of the police department’s stepped up alcohol-related enforcement for Cinco de Mayo weekend, officers and state troopers last night and early today operated a two-hour preannounced sobriety checkpoint on West End Avenue at 29th Avenue.

A total of 483 vehicles were checked between the hours of 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. Six persons were arrested, five for first-offense DUI, one for second-offense DUI.

Officers with the DUI Unit, and those extra-duty officers being paid through a grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, will be on roving patrol this evening through the early morning hours of Sunday looking for impaired and/or aggressive drivers.

Monday’s visit to Nashville by Vice President Biden will necessitate intermittent road closures on several Davidson County thoroughfares late morning through mid-afternoon for security purposes. Biden will be in Nashville for a fundraiser at a private residence.

Closures and delays will impact a number of roadways for motorcade security purposes, including:

I-40 (airport area)

I-24 in the area of I-440

I-440

I-65 south

Old Hickory Boulevard west of I-65 in the Brentwood area

Hillsboro Road

More than 140 Metro police personnel from a number of components will be assisting their federal and state counterparts in this security assignment. Roadways will be reopened once the motorcade has safely passed.

The police department has been informed that Biden will depart Nashville before the start of afternoon rush hour. The exact times and logistics of the Vice President’s visit are not being disclosed for security purposes.