Last Saturday, a scene of a different nature unfolded near Lafayette Street, where a felony drug suspect found himself in need of rescue after taking a plunge from a bridge into Browns Creek during an attempted evasion. The Nashville Police Department and Nashville Fire Department teamed up in an unforeseen act of rescue following what began as a routine vehicular burglary investigation.
Officer Wyatt Parcel, responding to a report of car burglaries, encountered a man, later identified as Darryn Carter, 31, a convicted drug felon, who sprang to avoid arrest, running to and then diving off a bridge into the water below. According to the Nashville government website, Carter sustained serious injuries from his fall, including leg fractures, facial fractures and a collapsed lung.
Officers Parcel, William Hudson, and Dylan Mercado did not hesitate to descend the steep banks to the creek's edge, wading through chilly, thigh-high waters to assist the injured Carter. Their dedication persisted as they waited nearly an hour in 30-degree weather for the fire department to execute a hoist rescue. A subsequent search of Carter's vehicle on Lafayette Street led to the discovery of not only weapons but also a significant quantity of drugs, the weights of which indicated an intent to distribute.
Upon his release from medical care at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, new charges will be leveled against Carter, adding to his already existing warrants, which include gun possession by convicted felon, marijuana and fentanyl possession for resale, and evading arrest.
