A Metro Nashville Police helicopter followed two suspected street racers across the Antioch area on Monday night, a chase that ended with a crash, a sprint through the woods and the arrests of two men, according to police. Investigators say a Nissan 370Z was trailed from above while a Dodge Challenger sped off, came close to officers on the ground and then plowed into a ditch. Both drivers bolted into nearby woods after the wreck before officers tracked them down and took them into custody.
According to WKRN, officers first spotted the two cars running together and racing near Powell Avenue. The aviation unit then locked onto the 370Z from the air. WKRN reports the Challenger ultimately crashed after being tracked by the helicopter, and that officers later made arrests near Delvin Drive and Coolemont Drive in Antioch, citing arrest documents and on-scene observations.
Metro jail booking records identify the 370Z’s driver as 18-year-old Jostin Contreras-Cordon, who was booked on drag racing, three counts of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor evading, with bond set at $42,000, per the Davidson County Sheriff's Office. The Challenger’s driver is listed as 21-year-old Moreira Benavides Anderson. Booking details show Anderson is facing a felony evading charge and several misdemeanor driving counts, with bond set at $14,000. Those same jail records note an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer on Anderson’s file, which the sheriff’s office indicates makes him ineligible for release while immigration officials review the case.
How Police Tracked The Cars
The incident unfolded against the backdrop of an ongoing MNPD Street Racer Initiative that leans heavily on aviation support and stepped-up traffic enforcement, according to reporting by NewsChannel 5. The outlet notes that Metro has upgraded its helicopters so officers can keep an eye on suspected racers from the sky while patrol units on the ground move in for stops. Department leaders say the strategy is meant to cut down on dangerous high-speed pursuits and help break up street takeovers and drag-racing meetups before someone gets hurt.
Scene Details And Officer Safety
WKRN reports the Challenger initially drove off with both suspects inside and came dangerously close to three officers before the ditch crash. After the wreck, one of the occupants allegedly ran back toward the Challenger and then both men took off on foot into a wooded area. Officers spread out, followed them into the woods, and eventually detained the pair. Local reporting so far has not detailed any injuries to officers or bystanders tied to the chase.
Legal Implications And Next Steps
Contreras-Cordon’s drag-racing and aggravated-assault counts, along with the evading charge, will move through the Davidson County criminal courts, where prosecutors review the jail files and decide how to formally charge the case. Anderson’s ICE detainer, listed in the same county booking records, could lead to his custody being turned over to federal immigration authorities depending on their next steps, per the Davidson County Sheriff's Office. MNPD officials are asking anyone who witnessed the chase or has additional information to call the department’s non-emergency line so investigators can follow up.
