Scoop: Nashville

Crime & Arrests

Paul Wanner charged after sucker punching man at Tin Roof Broadway

November 28, 20221 min read jsteen

22-year-old Paul Timothy Wanner was taken into custody at Tin Roof Broadway after multiple witnesses reported he had just walked up to another citizen and sucker punched him in the face. Just before this altercation, he was walking around and screaming on Broadway antagonizing others to fight him. Wanner says he was angry at the guy but provided no other explanation. He was obviously intoxicated and unable to care for himself. He was charged with public intoxication and transported to booking.

Crime & Arrests

Jack McCloski takes meth & runs naked downtown to “protest drug dealers”

November 28, 20221 min read jsteen

Metro Nashville Police observed 22-year-old Jack McCloski running naked through the parking lot of McDonald’s on Broadway in downtown Nashville in the early morning daylight hours of Saturday morning. They caught up with him behind the 7-Eleven, still naked. McCloski explained to officers he was “protesting drug dealers in the area” as the reason he was nude. He refused all medical treatment from EMS, and admitted to taking a “white powder” earlier in the morning, which he believed to be meth.

Crime & Arrests

Drunken Publicist Zachary Farnum climbs atop rideshare car & attempts to steal it in rampage

November 28, 20222 min read jsteen

28-year-old Nashville publicist and artist manager Zachary Farnum of the 117 Entertainment Group will need a publicist of his own to recover from the bad publicity he keeps giving himself. Police say Farnum was under the influence of at least one substance when he became aggressive and threatening with a rideshare driver this weekend. Farnum ended up climbing on top of the car before trying to steal it when the rideshare driver parked and called 911.

Farnum made headlines in October when it’s believed he prematurely tipped TMZ about the death of one of his clients, Jerry Lee Lewis, an entire day before he died. Scoop: Nashville also covered Farnum’s 2017 DUI after he attempted to leave a parking garage without paying and plowed through a barrier at the Music City Center. [details inside…]

Crime & Arrests

Joshua Hudson charged with trespassing inside St. Thomas midtown hospital

November 28, 20221 min read jsteen

Security at St. Thomas Midtown Hospital caught 30-year-old Joshua Hudson trespassing on the property on October 27th. When asked what he was doing inside the hospital, he provided false information as to his business inside the hospital. Security noted that he had made his way inside the hospital on prior occasions and had been asked to leave on those occasions and not return. He was issued a state citation for criminal trespass and was booked on that citation on November 14th.

Crime & Arrests

Kevin Cascante charged for drunkenness after trying to spit on people in downtown Nashville

November 27, 20221 min read jsteen

Metro Nashville Police responded to Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in response to a disorderly individual who was attempting to spit on citizens in the area. Officers located 37-year-old Kevin Cascante a short distance away after he was identified by security at the location. He was extremely intoxicated and unsteady on his feet as he walked down Broadway. He told officers he had been in an argument with his girlfriend and was currently on his way to go home and commit suicide. He then dropped his phone on the sidewalk and fell over when he attempted to pick him up. Officers rolled him over and placed him into custody, charging him with public intoxication.

Crime & Arrests

Marria Batemon charged in assault of girlfriend, Eja Hollis

November 27, 20221 min read jsteen

21-year-old Marria Batemon is charged with the domestic assault of her ex-girlfriend, Eja Hollis. The two were spending time together and got into a physical altercation twice on November 21st. The victim says she was thrown into a corner and strangled by Batemon. Officers documented injuries and cuts on the victim and transported Batemon to the Metro Nashville Jail.

Crime & Arrests

Octavious Bates “intoxicated and uncooperative” after assault on ex-girlfriend

November 27, 20221 min read jsteen

Metro Nashville Police say 29-year-old Octavious Bates was “intoxicated and uncooperative” when they encountered him as the subject of a domestic assault call on Stratford Avenue. His ex-girlfriend, Kira Mercedes McKenzie, says she invited him over to visit, and at some point, he got drunk and became disorderly. During a subsequent argument, she says Bates grabbed both of her arms and lifted her against a wall, holding her there. Officers documented injuries and bruises to her forearm and bicep.

Crime & Arrests

Active shooter arrested inside St. Thomas Midtown Hospital with multiple magazines of ammo

November 27, 20222 min read jsteen

#BREAKING: Metro Nashville Police responded to an active shooter a St. Thomas Midtown Hospital early Saturday after multiple calls were received of shots fired from inside the hospital. Security advised they heard two shots fired from inside a stairwell, and the gunman was now on the fourth level of the stairs after having entered through a back door to the hospital. Officers located and confronted the man, identified as 33-year-old Nicholas Zaayenga, who was eventually taken into custody. He was armed and had multiple magazines of ammunition in his possession, and was firing at in interior door when he was located. Multiple bullet casings were located in the same area. [His mugshot was not immediately available due to the weekend timing of the incident]

Crime & Arrests

April Hampton — texting while driving leads to arrest for cocaine, handgun, and marjiuana

November 27, 20221 min read jsteen

33-year-old April Hampton was pulled over by a THP Trooper on I-24 after he said he observed her texting while driving. It was determined her driver’s license was revoked for failure to pay court fees, and the officer noted the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. She claimed she had smoked earlier, but nothing was currently in the vehicle. A search was conducted and resulted in the seizure of a handgun, a small amount of cocaine (0.5 grams) packaged to sell, 32 grams of marijuana, and a scale.

Crime & Arrests

Shardae Bell rips hair from baby daddy’s scalp during child custody exchange

November 27, 20222 min read jsteen

Police responded to the O’Charley’s on Rivergate Parkway and met with 27-year-old Shardae Bell, who advised she had been assaulted by her ex-boyfriend during a child-custody exchange at the location. She says Terrance Jones was removing the child’s shoes and new clothing and dressing her in another set of clothing, as Shardae reportedly didn’t return the new clothes with the child on a prior exchange. She claimed she reached in to grab the child, and Terrance hit her in the face and pulled a gun on her before fleeing the scene.

Terrance returned to the location to also speak with officers, and they immediately noticed he was holding a large piece of his hair that appeared to have been ripped from the scalp, with a visible injury. He explained that as he was changing the child’s clothing, she attacked him and ripped out his hair. Witnesses confirmed that Shardae was the primary aggressor, and her version of events was untrue. After she was in custody, her child randomly spoke and said that her dad was hurt and her mother ripped his hair, without any prompting.

Crime & Arrests

Xavier Rolle issued citations for cocaine & prohibited gun possession in Nashville

November 26, 20221 min read jsteen

22-year-old Xavier Rolle was issued a state citation for cocaine possession and carrying a prohibited weapon after police conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle in late October when they observed expired plates on his vehicle, which was traveling at a high rate of speed. During the traffic stop, Rolle advised officers he had a gun in the vehicle, that it belonged to him, and it was under the back seat passenger’s legs. Officers retrieved the gun, which was a short-barrel shotgun — a prohibited weapon in Tennessee. During a pat down search, a grinder was discovered, which had multiple small baggies of white powder inside that tested positive for cocaine. Rolle was booked on the citations this week and has retained Bobby Ballinger as counsel.

Crime & Arrests

Luke Ratliff refuses to cooperate after DUI traffic stop on I-40: 102 in a 70mph zone

November 26, 20221 min read jsteen

It took the presence and force of three THP Troopers and two Metro Nashville Police officers to escort 40-year-old Lucas Andrew Ratliff from his vehicle to the ground after a DUI traffic stop and assistance from two security guards at Metro General Hospital to hold him down for a forced blood draw on November 21st. Troopers initially stopped Ratliff on I-40, where he was paced at 102 mph in a 70 mph zone. During the traffic stop, Ratliff would not make eye contact with officers and had slurred speech, and refused to exit the vehicle, stating he “does not want to.” A warrant was granted for his blood, and he was booked into the Metro Nashville Jail and charged with DUI.

Crime & Arrests

Meskin Beshili assaults wife after she buys new vehicle without his knowledge

November 25, 20221 min read jsteen

57-year-old Meskin Beshili says his wife, Suad Mustafa, bought a new vehicle without his knowledge. The couple had a verbal argument about the purchase, which escalated when his wife allegedly made a degrading statement about his mother. He says her words upset him, and he “pushed” his wife. During an interview, the victim states Meskin grabbed her by the arms and, pushed her to the couch, then slapped her in the face. Officers documented two injuries on her arm from the assault.

Crime & Arrests

Zaron Smith punches a woman in the face & pulls her hair, during assault in all-female TSU dorm

November 25, 20221 min read jsteen

22-year-old Zaron Phil Smith was booked this week on an outstanding warrant from 2019, charging him with assault. Police say security video shows Smith entering an all-female residence hall at Tennessee State University and waiting in the lobby for Taylor Doughty to come downstairs. Once she was in the lobby, Smith engaged in a verbal argument and then punched the victim in her face and pulled her hair. Smith was issued a citation at the time of the incident, and never appeared for his court date.

Crime & Arrests

Pheairis McMurray would knot leave Smokin Thighs after showing up high on marijuana

November 25, 20221 min read jsteen

Metro Nashville Police responded to the Wedgewood location of Smokin Thighs on a report of a disorderly person at the business. They came in contact with 29-year-old Pheairis McMurray, who stated he had smoked marijuana before visiting the restaurant. He had been asked to leave and was now willing to do so; however, his slurred and muffled speech and inability to stay focused on a conversation led police to take him into custody for public intoxication.

Crime & Arrests

Marcel Labib strangles husband who wouldn’t help her change a flat tire

November 24, 20222 min read jsteen

31-year-old Marcel Labib is accused of putting her husband, Youssef Shawk, in a rear choke hold until he was unable to breathe and scratching at his face when he refused to come to her aid with a flat tire. When she called him to help her, as she was stranded, he reminded her of his “hand injury” and advised her to call a tow truck instead. After the tire was fixed and she returned home, Marcel reminded Youssef that she cooks, cleans, and takes care of the home and that he could at least attempt to help her. He says she was irate and came at him, scratching at his face. As he attempted to shield his face, he says she put him in a rear choke hold, preventing him from breathing. The assault occurred in front of their two minor children, who attempted to separate their parents. Marcel is charged with domestic assault with bodily injury.

Crime & Arrests

You’re too drunk to leave Nashville — Michelle Balke & James Balke arrested at airport

November 24, 20221 min read jsteen

55-year-old Michelle Kay Balke & 60-year-old James Balke were attempting to fly out of Nashville late Monday; however, gate agents at the Nashville International airport denied boarding to both parties due to their extreme level of intoxication. The couple became verbally aggressive, with each one blaming the other for their predicament. Their argument causes a disturbance to airport operations and the gathering of people now watching. Airport police arrived, and they were asked to leave the property. As they were walking out, they again began yelling at each other, and after multiple attempts to calm the situation, both parties were taken into custody for public intoxication.

Crime & Arrests

Kelexis Batson charged after jumping her cousin at Nashville gas station

November 24, 20221 min read jsteen

Metro Nashville Police say 19-year-old Kelexis Batson, along with several other women, showed up at a North Nashville gas station where her cousin, Taylor Conyers, was pumping gas. As the women exited their vehicle, Conyers was fearful and locked herself inside her vehicle. Batson and Conyers had an ongoing dispute about “some words said about Batson’s daughter,” according to police. Video from the store shows Batson then jumped on the hood of the victim’s vehicle while yelling and screaming while the other women surrounded it. Conyers eventually exited the vehicle, and the two fought. Officers arrived and took Batson into custody, charging her with domestic assault.

Crime & Arrests

John Ballard jailed on outstanding warrant, charged with assault of his wife

November 24, 20221 min read jsteen

36-year-old John Ballard was jailed Tuesday on an outstanding warrant charging him with an earlier domestic assault of his wife. The victim, Lindsay-Rae Millard, says she was currently living at a different residence when John arrived unexpectedly. When she responded to the knocking on the door, she says he barged through and entered the home uninvited. He reportedly grabbed her and slammed her head into a wall, injuring her. A warrant was issued for his arrest. After he was booked Tuesday, he was released on his own recognizance.

Crime & Arrests

Jayne Adamson assaults wakes wife with water & assaults her in argument over dog

November 22, 20221 min read jsteen

Melanie Wheeler says her 53-year-old wife, Jayne Adamson, splashed her with a cup of water as she slept on the couch, and after she stood up, proceeded to push her against a wall, then pushed her to the side, causing her to hit her head. The argument was reportedly over their pet dog. Officers documented injuries that were reportedly from the assault.

Crime & Arrests

Kian Garcia flees police, drives into oncoming traffic with baby in vehicle with him

November 22, 20221 min read jsteen

Police say 21-year-old Kian Garcia drove past them in his gold Hyundai Genesis at a high rate of speed on Dickerson Pike on November 19th and began weaving through traffic as the officer followed the vehicle. After running the license plate and it coming back as registered to a GMC truck, officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Garcia had no plans on stopping. After a brief chase, officers stopped the pursuit due to public safety as the vehicle drove into the oncoming lanes of traffic. Nearby officers observed the car park at a car lot on Gallatin Pike, and two males exited the car. Officers approached the building and detained the two individuals. Inside the car during the pursuit was Garcia’s two-month-old son, who was unharmed.

Crime & Arrests

Eric Walker charged after secretly recording fiancée’s daughter in shower

November 22, 20221 min read jsteen

51-year-old Eric Walker is charged with unlawful photography after his fiancée called police when she found a video of her daughter showing on his cell phone. The video shows the 20-year-old naked and showering, unaware of the cell phone under the bathroom door, pointing at the shower. He is free on a $2,500 bond.

Crime & Arrests

Jonathan Tree found unconscious behind wheel of running car, wants to sue officers who arrested him

November 22, 20222 min read jsteen

68-year-old Jonathan Tree was found unconscious behind the wheel of his running car at the main entrance to Green Hills Mall in the early hours of Sunday morning. Officers approached after he didn’t respond to loudspeaker commands and eventually woke Tree, who had trouble putting the vehicle in park. Once the loud music was turned down, Tree stated he was coming from a restaurant in Franklin and was on his way to a hotel. Tree stated he only had “one beer” several hours earlier in the evening. He added that he had not slept much since his flight landed in Nashville. He performed poorly on field sobriety tests and was taken into custody. A Glock 19 was located in the center console of the vehicle. During the transport to jail, Tree continuously yelled profanities, then repeatedly apologized and told officers he would sue them for this arrest.

Crime & Arrests

Jonathan Cheatham accused of cheating — and assaulting his girlfriend

November 22, 20221 min read jsteen

24-year-old Jonathan Cheatham is charged with domestic assault after his girlfriend of 7-years, Shonterra Smith, provided police with a video showing him approaching her and slapping a phone from her hand, which she says placed her in fear for her safety. Smith says the argument initially began when she caught him messaging other women and confronted him. Cheatham says he was only upset because she had taken his phone charger.

Crime & Arrests

Chazz Brown holds girlfriend in a bearhug so she can’t leave

November 22, 20221 min read jsteen

Jonasia Mitchell says she was trying to leave the apartment she shares with 26-year-old Chazz Brown on November 19th after an argument when Brown “grabbed her in a bear hug” to prevent her from leaving. She says that wild maintaining that hold, he tossed her around the house and then took possession of her phone. During an interview, Brown told police he did restrain her, as he didn’t want her to leave, but denied throwing her around, punching, or kicking her. He also admitted to taking her phone. Officers documented a small cut on the victim and a video of a scuffle.

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