25-year-old Joseph Ide, an employee of Vanderbilt, was involved in a traffic stop on 101st Airborne Division Parkway after officers observed him attempting to cross into an opposite travel lane on July 13th. Officers made contact and noticed a strong odor of alcohol as they approached Ide, who was showing other signs of intoxication. Ide informed officers that he had a Glock 43x and that he drunk a beer two hours before they stopped him. After being prompted with sobriety tests, Ide agreed to perform them and performed poorly. Ide was then taken into custody. A check of Ide’s license revealed that it had been suspended due to his failure to pay fines on October 14th, 2021. Ide was later transported to booking and charged with possession of a handgun while under the influence, driving under the influence, and driving on a suspended license.
Author: Brodie Martin
Davin McDowell slaps girlfriend, makes her fall during altercation
25-year-old Davin McDowell was involved in a domestic altercation with his girlfriend, Lexus Tinsley, at their Oak Park Drive residence on July 12th. When officers arrived, McDowell told them nothing happened between him and his girlfriend. Officers then spoke with Tinsley, who stated that McDowell hit her but that she was okay. Witnesses at the location provided officers with camera footage of McDowell slapping Tinsley across the face. Tinsley was seen falling backward and screaming for help from a passing car. Officers deemed McDowell the primary aggressor, and then he was taken into custody for domestic assault.
Marcus Steele steals $80 worth of merchandise at Dollar General
27-year-old Marcus Steele was caught shoplifting at Dollar General on Dover Road on July 8th. Steele was observed taking items off the shelves and putting them inside his shopping cart. He then left with the cart and merchandise without paying. The stolen items were valued at $80.65. Steele was later taken into custody and charged with theft of property on July 12th.
Nicholas Thompson refuses to give police his ID after driving with expired tags
26-year-old Nicholas Thompson was stopped on Rossview Road for not displaying his registration on July 11th. When officers made contact with Thompson, they asked him for his name and driver’s license five times, but he refused each time. Thompson told officers that he didn’t need registration on his vehicle. Thompson then refused to provide officers with any information about his car. Officers asked Thompson to get out of his car seven times, but he continued to decline. Thompson had to be escorted out of the vehicle and taken into custody. While officers were conducting an arrest search, Thompson swatted at them to prevent them from getting his wallet. A search of Thompson’s trunk revealed the correct license plate for the vehicle, which had expired in February 2024. Thompson was transported to booking and charged with driving with expired registration and no insurance.
Kristopher Holt attacks girlfriend after blacking out during bipolar episode
47-year-old Kristopher Holt was involved in a domestic altercation with his girlfriend, Michelle Price, at their Oak Haven Motel on July 11th. When officers spoke with Price, she told them that things got physical during an argument with Holt. Price stated that while she was sitting on their bed, Holt pushed her down and wrapped his legs around her neck. Price claimed that she was able to get free, but Holt pushed her back down and grabbed her by the neck. Price also claimed she was not able to breathe when he did this. Price told police she was able to roll off the bed but when she tried to get up, Holt kicked her in the back. During their interaction, officers observed signs of physical assault, so they went to contact Holt. When officers met Holt, he stated that nothing happened. Holt then informed officers that he is schizophrenic and bipolar and often blacks out while he drinks. Holt was taken into custody and charged with aggravated domestic assault.
Northwest High School teacher Sophia Elvilus resists arrest after ignoring officers during traffic stop
24-year-old Northwest High School Spanish teacher Sophia Elvilus was seen in a light blue Honda CRV with a broken brake light on Shanee Terrace on July 11th. When officers conducted a traffic stop and made contact with Elvilus, she expressed that she knew the law and that she was not detained. Elvilus put her hands in her pocket and refused to comply with the officers’ orders. Elvilus then walked toward her car’s driver seat after officers told her to stay out of it. At that time, the passenger inside the vehicle closed the distance between him and the officers and told Elvilus to get inside the car. Officers then told Elvilus to put her hands behind her back and grabbed her arms in an attempt to detain her. Elvilus pulled her arms away from the officers and ran from them. After multiple attempts to free herself from arrest, Elvilus was taken into custody and charged with evading arrest and resisting arrest.
Jason Edwards shoots gun during argument with brother-in-law’s family
50-year-old Jason Edwards was involved in a domestic dispute with his brother-in-law, Barry Batson, at his Mcwhorter Road residence on July 11th. When officers arrived, they observed a .45 pistol holstered on Edwards’ waist, which was secured by law enforcement. Once officers made contact with Barry and his wife, Sandy Batson, she told them she and Edwards got into an argument when she tried waking him up. Sandy’s daughter got involved during the argument, which led to Edwards getting enraged and yelling. Sandy’s daughter then called her father and told him about the confrontation between her and Edwards.
Once Barry got home and opened his car door, he was approached by a furious Edwards, so he attempted to calm him down. As Edwards continued to get into Barry’s face, Sandy came outside as they argued. Edwards then said, “We could end it all right here.” while reaching around his back to where he had kept his gun. When Edwards reached to his back, Barry grabbed Sandy and went back inside. According to Barry, Edwards pulled his gun out and shot at the ground. Barry then turned around and saw a gun in Edwards’ hand and heard him say that “he would take him out.” Through further investigation, officers found a shell case in the area of the incident. Due to evidence, Edwards was taken into custody and charged with aggravated domestic assault.
DUI: Michael Watkins crashes car on South Riverside Drive, insists he only had two drinks
46-year-old Michael Watkins was involved in a single-vehicle car crash at South Riverside Drive on July 10th. When officers made contact with Watkins, he stated that while he was driving, a tractor-trailer hit him and drove away. During officers’ interaction with Watkins, they observed that he had a strong smell of alcohol coming from him. When Watkins was asked about it, he admitted that he had drunk alcohol eight hours before he drove. Watkins insisted that he only had two drinks. Watkins agreed to perform sobriety tests and performed poorly. Watkins was taken into custody and charged with driving under the influence.
Lexus Lagbeneku trespasses at ex-boyfriend’s apartment despite being banned
26-year-old Lexus Lagbeneku was involved in a domestic incident with her ex-boyfriend at his Airport Place apartment on June 30th. When officers arrived, Lagbeneku’s ex-boyfriend told them that Lagbeneku was banned from his apartment on May 4th. Her ex-boyfriend added that she had appeared at his residence on June 30th. He provided officers with a video from his doorbell camera showing Lagbeneku at his doorstep. A warrant was taken out for her arrest that day. Lagbeneku was later taken into custody and charged with criminal trespass on July 10th.
Christopher Blankenship nearly gets run over while stumbling down Cumberland Drive
29-year-old Christopher Blankenship was seen almost getting hit by a vehicle on Cumberland Drive at 3:00 a.m. on July 9th. When officers made contact with Blankenship, they reported that they could instantly smell alcohol coming from Blankenship. Officers also noted Blankenship had other signs of intoxication as well. During their interaction, Blankenship admitted that he had just left a local bar and consumed four to five mixed drinks. Blankenship was deemed a danger to himself, so he was taken into custody and charged with public intoxication.
Omar Stewart allegedly touches & kisses woman without consent at Wyatt Johnson Toyota
43-year-old Omar Stewart was allegedly seen assaulting Bethany Barrs at the Wyatt Johnson Toyota dealership on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard on June 25th. Barrs told police that when she was at the dealership shooting a video, Stewart approached her from behind and placed his hands on her lower back. Stewart then allegedly ran his hand up her back and into her hair. Once Barrs moved away from him, he pulled her back to him and attempted to kiss her. Barrs stated she pulled away from him again to avoid the kiss. However, Stewart was allegedly still able to kiss her on her neck. Barrs informed authorities that she had never met with Stewart before the incident and that the contact was unwanted. Omar Stewart was later taken into custody and charged with assault on July 8th.
Kerry Brown charged after hiding handgun from police
21-year-old Kerry Brown was caught with a firearm at his Prewitt Lane residence on July 8th. When officers arrived at his home after a reckless endangerment call, they came into contact with Brown. Brown admitted that he removed the firearm and shell casings from the scene before they arrived. Further investigation revealed Brown pled guilty to a felony vehicle theft charge on December 2nd, 2022. A semi-automatic .380 caliber handgun was recovered from where Brown stated he stashed the gun. Brown was taken into custody for being a felon in possession of a firearm and tampering with evidence.
Tiana Sigourney Bowlyn threatens husband with machete during argument
31-year-old Tiana Sigourney Bowlyn was involved in a domestic altercation with her husband, Markodean James, at their Peachers Mill Road on July 7th. James told officers that during an argument with Bowlyn, he pushed her out of the room she was in and locked the door. James stated that Bowlyn began kicking and banging on the door until James opened it. Once James opened it, he saw Bowlyn with a machete in her hand. Bowlyn grabbed James by his shirt and held the machete against him while yelling. James pushed Bowlyn back out of the room and locked the door again. When officers spoke with Bowlyn, she admitted to having the machete in her hand while she was trying to get back in the room. Bowlyn denied that she threatened James with the machete. Bowlyn was taken into custody and charged with aggravated domestic assault.
Rahemn Price stops traffic while chasing woman’s car because he wants to be her boyfriend
25-year-old Rahemn Price was involved in a domestic altercation with Taylor Williams, on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard on July 7th. Williams contacted law enforcement, telling them Price was following her car and was determined to be her boyfriend. Williams stated that after an argument with Price, she left the house, and he started chasing her. While Price followed Williams, he stopped traffic, exited his car, and banged on Williams’ driver’s side window to get inside. Williams stated Price also threw something at her car. Williams told officers that Price’s actions made her fear for her safety. When officers spoke with Price, he confessed that his actions were aggressive. Price was deemed the primary aggressor and then taken into custody for domestic assault.
Joyce Marie Spicer restrains 15-year-old daughter with zip-ties to make her take medicine
45-year-old Joyce Marie Spicer was involved in a domestic incident with her 15-year-old daughter at their Warren Drive residence on July 7th. When officers arrived, Spicer’s daughter told police that her mother pushed her down and tied her up with zip ties to make her take her medicine. Officers observed red abrasions on her wrist, consistent with the zip ties found at the residence. Spicer confirmed her daughter’s statements and stated that she had her restrained for five minutes. Spicer also told officers how she would leave her daughter zip-tied while she wasn’t at home. Spicer was taken into custody and charged with domestic assault and false imprisonment.
Andrew Reynoso drives into field to flee police after using fake tag labeled “QUIET”
37-year-old Andrew Reynoso was stopped on his 2022 Honda CBR 1000RR motorcycle for driving with a fictitious tag reading “QUIET” at the intersection of Tiny Town Road and Franklin Meadows Way on July 6th. Officers reported that Reynoso’s tag was commonly used on cars to avoid capture when evading law enforcement. Once officers activated their emergency lights, Reynoso did not yield and continued to speed into a neighborhood at a high speed. Officers continued to follow Reynoso until they arrived at a dead-end road. As they caught up with Reynoso, he was observed trying to drive into a field until he fell off. After falling off, Reynoso started running before he was apprehended shortly after. At that time, Reynoso was identified and taken into custody for two counts of evading arrest and improper plates.
Bethany Sunstein speeds down Dover Road at 100 mph, admits to police it was stupid to do
On July 6th, 19-year-old Bethany Sunstein was seen driving at high speeds with people hanging out the windows of her blue sedan. Once officers passed the vehicle, they observed the front and rear passengers hanging out the window with more than half of their bodies out of the car. Officers turned around to catch up to the vehicle but found it was going 81 mph in a 40 mph zone. After the sedan reached Dover Road, a 65mph zone, it was seen driving at speeds over 100mph. Once officers conducted a traffic stop and came into contact with Sunstein, she admitted what she was doing was stupid. Sunstein was taken into custody and charged with two counts of reckless endangerment and one count of reckless driving.
Mercedez Hannah strikes boyfriend multiple times in face during argument
20-year-old Mercedez Hannah was involved in a domestic altercation with her boyfriend, Jalen Dowdy, at their Power Street residence on July 6th. When officers arrived, Dowdy told them he had gotten into an altercation with Hannah. Dowdy stated that he attempted to get away from Hannah to avoid escalating the situation further, but he could not. While doing this, Hannah stuck him near the bottom of his face. Hannah left before officers arrived, but they were able to contact her and get her to return. Hannah confessed that she struck Dowdy in the face around three times but stated that she did so because Dowdy had chest-bumped her. Officers deemed Hannah the primary aggressor, and then she was taken into custody for domestic assault.
Johnny Nieto Jr. drunkenly locks himself inside bathroom stall at Hooters
28-year-old Johnny Nieto Jr. was found locked inside a bathroom stall at Hooters at 12:35 a.m. on July 6th. An employee at the location informed officers that Nieto had been drinking before police arrival and was in the bathroom stall for a long time. Once officers made contact with Nieto, they noticed the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from him. During their interaction with Nieto, they observed that he was incoherent and couldn’t maintain his balance. Nieto Jr. was taken into custody for public intoxication.
Cheyenne Jenkins jailed after being found drunk at Parkway Place Apartments
19-year-old Cheyenne Jenkins was found intoxicated at the Parkway Place Apartments on July 7th. When officers arrived, they made contact with Jenkins, who had the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her. Jenkins was asked if she had consumed any alcohol, and she admitted that she had. Upon further investigation, officers found that Jenkins was 19 years old. Jenkins was taken into custody for public intoxication and underage drinking.
