A Nashville man with a history of felonies was taken back into custody after officers observed him engaging in what appeared to be a drug deal. Dejuan Bell, 33, was arrested Tuesday night in Cayce Homes by TITANS Unit detectives, according to a report by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
Bell was observed exiting his Nissan Altima and approaching a pickup truck, presumably to sell drugs. When detectives intervened, Bell attempted to flee on foot, discarding a Glock pistol from his waistband during the pursuit. The firearm, later confirmed to have been stolen in 2022 from a motor vehicle burglary on 6th Avenue South, was recovered along with various narcotics and a large amount of cash from Bell’s vehicle and person.
Bell has a prior criminal history, having pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in a 2018 homicide case and been found guilty of felony evading arrest the previous year. At the time of his arrest, he was on probation with the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC). The evidence seized included 164 grams of marijuana, 4.5 grams of cocaine, 4.2 grams of oxycodone pills, a digital scale, and over $2,100 in cash.
Following his arrest, Bell informed detectives that he had been selling drugs and carrying the firearm, despite his status as a prohibited possessor. He was charged with several felonies, including theft of a firearm, criminal trespassing, driving with a suspended license, felony weapon possession, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, as well as misdemeanor charges for evading arrest, drug paraphernalia, and three counts of drug possession. He is currently being held in jail pending further legal action, with a bond set at $93,500.
