A Nashville police crackdown on street racing ended with four arrests, a high-speed Tesla pursuit and a massive drug-and-gun seizure, according to authorities. The overnight operation unfolded as officers targeted a planned car meet where police say drivers were racing, doing donuts and putting spectators and officers at risk.
According to WSMV, a Metro Nashville police helicopter spotted a Tesla traveling alongside two motorcycles at more than 120 mph. Ground officers attempted to stop the Tesla, but 19-year-old Chase Robinson allegedly kept driving, swerved toward an officer and struck a patrol vehicle before eventually stopping at a gas station.
Robinson, who is from Clarksville, allegedly sideswiped another vehicle during the pursuit and continued driving on deflated tires. Police said the officer involved was not injured, and Robinson was taken into custody after the chase.
Four Arrests, Different Charges
Robinson faces three counts of reckless endangerment, aggravated assault against a police officer, failure to render aid involving an accident, three counts of evading arrest and drag racing. He was being held on a $52,000 bond, according to the police account reported by WSMV.
The most serious haul came from the arrest of 28-year-old Derrick Moore of Nashville. Officers stopped Moore on Interstate 24 near the Harding Place exit after police said he drove a gray sedan with a black hood at 74 mph while swerving through traffic and performing donuts for a crowd.
Police said they found 468 grams of methamphetamine, 194 grams of cocaine laced with fentanyl, 42 grams of marijuana, a loaded pistol, a Glock switch and $22,468 in cash inside or on Moore. He was charged with felony drug possession, speeding, reckless driving and possessing a gun during the commission of a felony, and was being held on a $222,000 bond.
Two other Nashville men, both 18, were arrested after separate foot pursuits. Edgar Uria Rodriguez allegedly admitted he knew officers were trying to stop him but did not want to get caught; he faces charges of evading arrest by motor vehicle, evading arrest, reckless driving and riot and was being held on an $11,000 bond.
Luis Jared Sellaho Gomez was arrested after a short foot chase and charged with evading arrest and riot. He was being held on a $4,000 bond, while police said all four suspects remained in jail.
Police Escalate Their Street-Racing Response
The arrests are part of a broader MNPD effort to target street racing and excessive speeding rather than simply break up individual gatherings. In an earlier Metro Nashville Police Department release, officials said a late-May operation led to 12 arrests, including seven teenagers, and 47 total charges.
The department’s approach has also included tracking online organizers. In June, WSMV reported that investigators used Instagram group chats to identify a suspected organizer accused of encouraging participants to block police, take over intersections and perform donuts.
Nashville has seen similar scenes in recent months. A February incident covered by WSMV involved roughly 40 vehicles in a South Nashville takeover, with police reporting that children were inside an SUV involved in the alleged reckless driving.
Charges Remain Allegations
The four men have been arrested and charged, but the allegations have not been tested in court. Bond amounts can change, and further court filings could add, reduce or alter the charges as the cases move forward.
