Mount Juliet Police Seize Stolen Firearms During Traffic Stops Amid Growing Concerns Over Vehicle Theft

Mount Juliet Police Recover Stolen Firearms During Traffic Stops

In Mount Juliet, Tennessee, crime just took one for the good guys! Within a 24-hour window, local officers made significant busts that involved two stolen handguns, marking a moment of victory in the ongoing battle against vehicle-related firearm thefts. The police department went on record, revealing that they have seen a troubling trend of firearms stolen from vehicles over the past few years.

The Numbers Speak Volumes

This year alone, the Metro Nashville Police Department disclosed that a staggering 734 guns have been taken from parked vehicles in Davidson County. Why? Because, as it turns out, many people mistakenly think their cars are secure enough to leave firearms unattended inside them. Unfortunately, this has become far too common and very appealing for criminals.

“These criminals do cross borders quite frequently,” said Deputy Chief Tyler Chandler of the Mount Juliet Police Department. In recent months, his department has recovered 46 guns that were linked to criminal activities, and the majority of those have ties back to Nashville. This shows just how interconnected these regional incidents can be.

What Happened During the Traffic Stops?

On Wednesday, October 23, officers stopped two men on Golden Bear Gateway due to tint violations on their car windows. To their surprise, they discovered a Glock handgun that had been reported stolen from a vehicle in Nashville back in May 2023. The suspects, identified as 28-year-old Christopher Cannon and 29-year-old Tevin Blake, were charged not just with illegal possession of the weapon, but also with drug offenses.

The very next day, Thursday, October 24, police conducted another traffic stop. This time, they took into custody an 18-year-old named D’Marion Harney from Goodlettsville after discovering yet another stolen handgun—this one reportedly taken from the parking lot of TriStar Summit Medical Center in Hermitage. Harney also faced charges for theft and drug-related offenses.

Cracking Down on Vehicle Theft

At present, all three suspects are being held at the Wilson County Jail with bail amounts ranging between $2,000 to $6,000. As these incidents unfold, it’s important to highlight the ongoing efforts of local law enforcement to reduce what has become a serious issue.

Lt. Brandon Tennant from Metro Nashville Police earlier noted, “Our vehicles are not gun safes… We need to keep our guns locked up inside a safe or some type of safekeeping inside of our residence.” Well said! The good news is that there have been solid efforts to tackle these problems head-on.

Progress in the Right Direction

Back in February, authorities launched a special initiative aimed at reducing vehicle theft and gun-related crimes. Fast forward to today, and there has been a remarkable decrease of nearly 40-50% in vehicle burglaries and gun thefts, according to recent reports from the Metro Nashville Police Department. That’s a big win for the community!

Chandler mentioned that implementing a license plate recognition system about three years ago significantly helped curtail gun thefts from cars, a problem that the city used to grapple with regularly. “If they’re bringing stolen cars in, if that’s their mode of transportation, and a license plate reader can detect stolen cars, then that was our solution—and that solution has worked,” he said.

With these statistics and successes, it’s clear that the community can pull together to make a difference. The ongoing reminders to secure firearms and keep them out of vehicles could help further assist in reducing these troubling trends. So the takeaway is simple: stay alert, stay aware, and keep those guns locked up!