Mount Juliet's streets are a bit safer today after a routine traffic stop led to significant seizures, according to the local police department. A post on their social media revealed that officers were notified by the #MJGuardianShield License Plate Reader system of a stolen U-Haul van, which had been reported missing out of St. Louis, Missouri. Police conducted a safe stop on Lebanon Road after the van entered their jurisdiction from Hermitage. Upon the stop, authorities detained a man from Smyrna, 38, and a woman from Iowa, 37.
The subsequent investigation turned up more than just a stolen vehicle. Inside the van were suspected methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl. Officers also discovered needles, both used and unused, meth pipes, and additional drug paraphernalia. To further complicate matters, dozens of fraudulent checks, totaling over $40,000, and a collection of fake state-issued IDs and passport cards were found. Each identification bore the same photo but showcased different names and birthdates. A statement from the Mt. Juliet Police details how both individuals eventually admitted to their involvement with the unreturned rental, the narcotics, and the fraudulent documents.
This afternoon, officers were alerted by our #MJGuardianShield License Plate Reader system to a stolen U-Haul van entering the city on Lebanon Rd from Hermitage. Officers located the van on Lebanon Road and safely conducted a stop. The vehicle was confirmed stolen out of St.… pic.twitter.com/YhJM82T5Za
— Mt. Juliet Police (@MtJulietPolice) July 20, 2025
Charges laid on the detainees are extensive, including Theft of Property for the motor vehicle, multiple counts of Identity Theft and Criminal Simulation, as well as Possession of Schedule I and II Narcotic substances. There were also charges for Unlawful Drug Paraphernalia and Tampering with Evidence, as one individual even tried to secretly destroy and conceal drugs while inside the back of a patrol vehicle. To add to their troubles, one of the pair was found to also have a Violation of Probation warrant for Resale of Meth on their record.
Technology plays a critical role in policing, as this incident depicts. The Mt. Juliet Police credited their #MJGuardianShield License Plate Reader system for the successful identification and retrieval of the stolen van. "This incident demonstrates, yet again, how proactive policing and the use of technology like LPR systems continue to keep Mt. Juliet safe," the police department said in their official communication.
