A Lebanon man, 20, wanted for alleged involvement in a robbery and armed carjacking in Nashville, was apprehended in Mt. Juliet following a traffic stop for a window tint violation. This arrest was part of the Mt. Juliet Police Department's Operation Safe Shopper, an initiative that aims to ensure public safety during the busy holiday shopping period, according to FOX17.
The operation, launched on Black Friday, was marred by the arrest of two individuals. The police noticed what they described as a "suspicious vehicle" in the parking lot of an Academy Sports, leading to quickly stop and investigate the car as it made its way down Pleasant Grove Road. Per a X post by the Mt. Juliet Police, an officer was able to initially identify the car due to its excessively dark window tint— when they to further delve into the situation, a warrant for failure to appear in Nashville was discovered.
Officers engaged in Operation Safe Shopper are out working hard to keep our community safe. This afternoon, a 20-year-old male from Lebanon— out on bond for a Nashville robbery and armed carjacking —was apprehended on his failure to appear warrant out of Nashville. He was located… pic.twitter.com/IcpJTmGZJV
— Mt. Juliet Police (@MtJulietPolice) November 29, 2024
According to a report by WSMV, the second individual arrested during Operation Safe Shopper was a 40-year-old man from Columbia. This man was found allegedly demonstrating signs of impairment in the Lowe's parking lot, which led to the deployment of a K9 officer. The search of the suspect's vehicle uncovered methamphetamine.
Both incidents underscored the department's commitment to the safety of the Mt. Juliet community during a time when retail spaces are frequently crowded and crimes are more often attempted. "We are committed to protecting Mt. Juliet," the Mt. Juliet Police stated in a post on X. The 20-year-old Lebanon man has been detained for his failure to uphold his legal responsibilities.
