LaVergne, TN - Around 6:00 PM on Thursday, a LaVergne Police officer attempted to stop a vehicle that was failing to maintain its lane. However, the driver of the black Nissan Murano, later identified as a juvenile, refused to pull over, initiating a police pursuit that led into the Lake Forest subdivision. As Officer Bell followed the SUV into the neighborhood, the pursuit was strategically terminated due to safety concerns related to the area’s layout and the risk posed to bystanders. However, it’s important to note that while the pursuit was terminated, the police response did not end there.
Multiple officers quickly converged on the area, and thanks to a tip from a vigilant resident, the vehicle was located shortly after. Officers found the SUV partially parked inside the garage of a home the juvenile had never visited—an apparent attempt to evade capture. However, the teen failed to pull the vehicle far enough inside to close the garage door, leaving half of the Nissan still visible in the driveway, which only made it stand out more. Nearby, five juveniles were seen in front of the home. None of them had any known connection to the residence, raising further suspicion about their presence.
According to LaVergne Police, four of the juveniles told officers they had pleaded with the driver to stop and expressed fear for their safety. Based on the incident and their statements, the juvenile driver was taken into custody. The suspect was transported to the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center and now faces multiple serious charges, including: Felony evading, Four counts of felony reckless endangerment and Four counts of kidnapping.
LaVergne Police acknowledged the importance of community involvement in a public statement: “We’d like to thank the community member who called in the tip. That kind of involvement directly impacts how quickly and effectively we can respond. We want to remind our community that the La Vergne Police Department remains committed to holding offenders accountable through vigilant patrols and swift response. If you see something, say something, together, we keep this city safe.”
DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.
