A peaceful stroll through Bicentennial Park turned into a harrowing encounter for a visiting couple when they were chased by an armed man on Saturday. According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, as reported by WSMV, the suspect, identified as Thomas Milan, appeared heavily intoxicated and was aggravating other park visitors before the altercation.
The drama unfolded when the woman from the couple approached Milan and his companion to offer help, expressing care for their safety. According to her account provided to WSMV, Milan responded by brandishing a knife and threatening to kill her, seemingly heightening the intensity of the threat by dragging the knife on the ground. The couple was forced to start running for their lives, trying desperately to find help within the expansive park.
The couple chanced upon a man with a dog and pleaded for assistance, although the man, too, reportedly ran, perhaps understanding the gravity of the situation. "I think the guy even started sprinting and couldn't help us. Everyone was just running for their lives," the woman told WSMV. The couple eventually reached safety and contacted the authorities.
Separately, NewsChannel 9 reported that Milan had threatened to cut the boyfriend's throat and caused sparks by dragging a knife along a brick wall, intending to scare the couple further. When the officers detained a man matching the description of the assailant at Seventh Avenue North and Harrison Street, they recovered the woman's phone in his possession. The victims positively identified Milan as the aggressor.
Thomas Milan was booked into the Metro jail on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and theft, as chronicled by WKRN. His bond was set at $85,000, and a knife was retrieved by officers near the location where Milan was apprehended. The couple was thankful that Milan was in custody, with the woman noting the dangerous situation could have led to more severe outcomes had they not escaped.
