A routine traffic stop in Mt. Juliet turned into anything but routine Sunday when officers say they found marijuana packaged for resale and an AR-style rifle in a car carrying four young children.
Police arrested a 35-year-old Nashville man on Lebanon Road near the county line after the discovery. The kids in the vehicle were ages 12, 11, 5, and 4, and the driver now faces a stack of charges, including possession for resale and multiple counts of child endangerment, according to authorities.
A stop on Lebanon Rd near the county line led to much more than a window tint violation. While some may view violations like illegal window tint as minor, officers know those violations can sometimes be used to conceal criminal activity and create safety concerns that would… pic.twitter.com/w4jUGjxZgP
— Mt. Juliet Police (@MtJulietPolice) June 14, 2026
Stop For Tint Violation Led To Gun, Drugs And Revoked License
According to WSMV, officers initially pulled the vehicle over for a window tint violation on Lebanon Road. What started as a minor equipment stop escalated when investigators say they found a quantity of marijuana packaged for resale and an AR-style rifle hidden in the car.
Police told the station the driver was behind the wheel on a revoked license and is currently on probation for a prior domestic assault charge, raising the stakes of a stop that began with dark windows.
Four Kids In The Back, DCS Called In
Mt. Juliet Police wrote on X that four children — ages 12, 11, 5, and 4 — were riding in the vehicle at the time of the stop and that officers made a referral to the Department of Children’s Services, Mt. Juliet Police said. In the post, the department called it “more than a window tint violation” and pointed to officers’ vigilance during the stop.
The post did not spell out what happened to the children immediately afterward or provide details on their condition.
Charges And Legal Context
Police charged the driver with possession of Schedule VI (marijuana) for resale, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, driving on a revoked license, and four counts of child endangerment, WSMV reports.
Under Tennessee law, the sale or possession with intent to sell a Schedule VI controlled substance, such as marijuana, in amounts between one-half ounce and 10 pounds is treated as a Class E felony. Related firearms offenses can carry additional penalties, according to a memo from the Fiscal Review Committee summarizing Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417. Actual sentences depend on the facts of the case and how prosecutors choose to charge it.
What Happens Next
The Mt. Juliet Police Department has referred the children’s side of the case to the Department of Children’s Services, and investigators have turned the criminal case over to local prosecutors for formal charging decisions.
As the case moves through the system, booking records, charging documents, and any scheduled court dates are expected to provide the next round of public information.
