A Nashville father is facing a long list of charges after police say he led them on a high‑speed chase with his 7‑year‑old son sitting in the back seat. The pursuit kicked off near Charles E. Davis Boulevard and Fain Street, spilled onto I‑40, and ended only after officers used spike strips. The car finally rolled to a stop a block past the spikes near Lyle Lane, where two adults were taken into custody. Investigators later found a discarded black cross‑body bag that they say held a Glock 23 Gen 5.
What the police say happened
According to the arrest affidavit, detectives were tailing a gray 2016 Chevrolet Cruze because the driver allegedly had an outstanding Davidson County warrant. They tried to pull the car over on I‑40 near Fesslers Lane. Instead of stopping, the affidavit says the driver hit the gas, at times veering into oncoming lanes, while a police helicopter tracked the car overhead. Officers then used spike strips as the vehicle approached Foster Avenue. Someone in the car reportedly tossed a black bag out of the rear passenger window just before the Chevrolet stopped near Lyle Lane, where officers detained the driver and a front‑seat passenger, as reported by WSMV.
Evidence recovered and affidavit claims
Officers then found the driver’s 7‑year‑old son in the back seat, according to the affidavit, along with about 6.6 grams of marijuana in the center console. The affidavit notes that "the vehicle fled the traffic stop at a high rate of speed" and says investigators later tracked down the tossed bag and recovered a Glock 23 Gen 5. It also alleges the suspect admitted to handling multiple firearms since getting out of prison and that he is barred from having a gun because of prior felony drug convictions. Police charged him with felony child neglect involving a child 8 or younger, felony evading arrest by motor vehicle with risk of injury, felony possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and several misdemeanors. His bond is listed at more than $88,000, and WSMV reports it is not naming the suspect in order to protect the child’s privacy.
Custody and what comes next
The suspect was booked into the Downtown Detention Center and is under a 12‑hour domestic‑violence hold while his bond sits above $88,000, according to the Davidson County Sheriff's Office. Local prosecutors will review the arrest affidavit before filing any formal charges and setting court dates. The Sheriff’s Office runs an online inmate search and a public information page for the Downtown Detention Center, where booking details are updated.
Legal context
Under Tennessee law, penalties increase when the child involved is 8 years old or younger. The statute that covers child abuse, neglect, and endangerment lays out tougher felony classifications for younger victims. Prosecutors will look at whether the alleged actions created an imminent risk to the child or harmed his health and welfare when deciding how to proceed. See Tennessee Code §39‑15‑401, available on Justia.
The case now moves to Metro prosecutors and onto the Davidson County criminal court calendar, where filings and future hearings will fill in more details. This story will be updated as new court documents or official statements are released.
