A 25-year-old man is facing an aggravated assault charge after Metro Nashville Police say he slammed another man to the ground during a holiday-weekend confrontation near the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, leaving the victim with a fractured left arm. Officers responding to 3rd Avenue South, across from the pedestrian bridge entrance, found the injured man at the scene and arrested Yander Joaquin, who appeared intoxicated at the time.
According to WSMV, the confrontation began when Joaquin allegedly harassed a group of women who were waiting for food nearby, a claim reported per witnesses and the victim. Joaquin told officers the women had annoyed him, and when the victim attempted to intervene in the interaction, Joaquin said the man's approach only annoyed him further. Per the arrest affidavit, Joaquin then allegedly slammed the man to the ground, causing his left arm to fracture.
Officers observed that Joaquin had red, watery eyes and an unsteady stance when they arrived, and a witness showed police cellphone footage of the incident. Joaquin was booked on charges of aggravated assault and public intoxication.
Conflicting Accounts of How Much He Had to Drink
Joaquin gave officers several different explanations for his level of intoxication that night, the station's report notes. He said at various points that he had smoked marijuana, that he had a couple of beers, and that he had actually drunk a whole bottle of alcohol. He also told police he had been drinking and simply wanted to have a chill night and get food.
The scene of the arrest sits at one of downtown Nashville's busiest pedestrian bottlenecks. The western entrance to the 3,150-foot John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge sits at 3rd Avenue South, linking Riverfront Park with Cumberland Park and Nissan Stadium across the river, according to Nomado. The area falls under the jurisdiction of Metro Nashville Police Department's Central Precinct, which runs a specialized Entertainment District Unit focused on alcohol-related disorder and crowded foot traffic downtown, per Nashville.gov.
What the Felony Charge Means Under Tennessee Law
Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-102, an assault that intentionally or knowingly causes serious bodily injury is classified as a Class C felony, carrying a potential sentence of 3 to 15 years and a fine of up to $15,000, according to Legal Powers PLLC. A broken or fractured bone legally satisfies the threshold for serious bodily injury, which is what elevates the case from a misdemeanor assault to a felony aggravated assault charge, the firm notes. Under the state's Criminal Sentencing Reform Act, a first-time offender like Joaquin would typically fall into Range I, facing 3 to 6 years if convicted, while repeat or persistent offenders face enhanced ranges up to 15 years.
Separately, the public intoxication charge stems from Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-17-310, which requires proof that a person appeared in public under the influence to a degree that endangered themselves, endangered others, or unreasonably annoyed people nearby, according to Cate Law. That misdemeanor carries a maximum of 30 days in jail and a $50 fine.
Part of a Pattern Downtown
The incident adds to a string of violent and alcohol-related arrests in Nashville's entertainment corridor this year. In late August, Metro police arrested a 41-year-old man who pulled a butcher knife on WeGo security guards downtown, and days later another intoxicated man was charged after allegedly grabbing a woman on a downtown transit bus. A similar felony assault case unfolded in July 2024, when a dispute at 3rd Avenue and Broadway ended with a suspect striking a bartender with a flagpole.
Even so, citywide violent crime has generally trended downward. Data from the Metro Nashville Police Department and the Davidson County District Attorney's Office cited in early 2026 showed homicides and nonfatal shootings declined in 2025 compared to prior years, even as isolated violent confrontations in central public areas continue to draw police response. It remains unclear when Joaquin will make his initial court appearance, what bond conditions may be set, or whether the cellphone footage obtained by witnesses will be entered into evidence. The victim's current medical recovery status has not been disclosed.
