Deputies say three teenagers turned a quiet landscaping yard in east Shelby County into their own demolition derby, leaving an estimated $30,000 in damage after work trucks and equipment were driven into a ditch and several company vehicles were left disabled.
The joyride unfolded at a Nature's Earth location on U.S. Highway 64 in Arlington. Authorities say the suspects are juveniles who have been issued summonses, and the investigation is still underway.
What deputies say
On April 5, Shelby County deputies responded to a vandalism call at the Nature's Earth yard on Highway 64. Witnesses reported that three juveniles had broken into the property and taken several vehicles for a spin, steering them straight into a ditch and causing extensive damage.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspects as 17, 14, and 13 years old. Deputies say they issued juvenile summonses for felony vandalism after tallying roughly $30,000 in total damage, with individual vehicle losses ranging from about $10,000 to $60,000.
Witnesses told reporters the teens allegedly rammed one company pickup into another and tried to start three semi-tractors parked on the lot, according to WREG.
Related cases in east Shelby County
The landscaping lot fiasco is not the only recent juvenile vandalism case in East Shelby County. In late March, deputies issued juvenile summonses after a break-in and damage at Macon Road Baptist Church, as reported by ActionNews5.
What the charges mean
Shelby County deputies say the teens in the landscaping yard case were issued juvenile summonses for felony vandalism, a charge that becomes more serious as the dollar value of the property damage climbs.
Under Tennessee law, vandalism is graded by the amount of loss, and damage in the $10,000 to $60,000 range is typically treated as a Class C felony. That classification carries significantly tougher potential penalties than a misdemeanor, according to a legal summary from the Baker Law Firm. Because the suspects are underage, the case will proceed in juvenile court rather than the adult criminal system.
Investigation and next steps
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation remains active and detectives are asking anyone with information to contact the department. Property owners are expected to pursue insurance claims and restitution as the case moves through juvenile court.
For the sheriff’s account of what happened at the Nature's Earth yard, along with additional details on the alleged rampage, see reporting by WREG.
