The usually rowdy corner of 3rd Avenue North and Commerce Street turned tense late Friday night when, according to Metro Nashville police, a 40-year-old man allegedly pulled a knife and threatened to stab people outside the Wild Beaver Saloon. Officers responded to multiple calls, tracked down the suspect nearby, and arrested him without incident. He was booked on several aggravated assault counts, along with public intoxication and disorderly conduct, with bond set at $101,100.
According to WSMV, witnesses told investigators the suspect, identified in the affidavit as 40-year-old Demario Sumlar, put his head on a woman's chest before pulling a knife and warning people, "You don't want to **** with me," then adding, "I'll stab your ***." Several bystanders said they saw him rush at others and make similar threats, according to the affidavit.
Officers later spotted Sumlar heading up 3rd Avenue North near Church Street. They reported that he smelled of alcohol and detained him without further trouble, according to the Davidson County Sheriff's Office booking list. The sheriff's recent bookings include an entry for Demario Leshaun Sumlar that matches the name in the affidavit.
Charges and Next Steps
According to the Davidson County Sheriff's Office booking list, Sumlar is facing four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, along with public intoxication and disorderly conduct, and his bond is set at $101,100. WSMV reports that no one was hurt in the incident. Investigators are reviewing witness statements and any available video as the case moves into the Davidson County criminal court system.
Downtown Safety and Response
This arrest comes as city officials continue to expand co-response teams that pair police officers with mental health professionals on many 911 calls. A review of Nashville's REACH and Partners in Care programs by Nashville Scene found that roughly 4 percent of Partners in Care calls resulted in an arrest, a reminder that most crisis responses in the city end with services rather than someone going to jail.
