Scoop: Nashville

Crime & Arrests

Party Bus owner bought $30K untaxed alcohol at Fort Campbell & sold w/o license on party barge — Bob Pizzitola

September 12, 20224 min read jsteen

Robert ‘Bob’ Pizzitola and his wife Susan own ‘Nashville Party Barge’ which operates as one of the largest party bus companies in downtown Nashville, some of which cater specifically to bachelorettes and mural tours. An undercover operation by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) revealed Robert, who is a veteran, traveling to the commissary at Fort Campbell, KY, and purchasing large amounts of untaxed alcohol. He would then sell the liquor on his Nashville party bus tours without any license to sell alcohol and without paying any taxes. Detectives say the couple had bought approximately $30,000 in untaxed liquor and transported it back to Tennessee for resale without a permit or license.

Crime & Arrests

Jason Bland threatens to put wife and children in body bags if they testify in court case against him

September 10, 20221 min read jsteen

43-year-old Jason Bland, who was jailed in July for the assault of his wife and daughter, found himself behind bars again this week after Metro Nashville Police say he came into her house unannounced, took the phones of everyone in the residence so police could not be called, and stated he was going to hire a hitman to murder his wife and kids and “make sure they are all in body bags” if she goes to court to testify against him in the upcoming domestic violence case.

Crime & Arrests

Priest Covington jailed after threatening to kill his mother and her new boyfriend

September 10, 20221 min read jsteen

22-year-old Priest Covington reportedly became upset when he disapproved of his mother, Lanika Jernigan’s, new boyfriend. He made threats to murder the new boyfriend if she introduced him to his little brother and further made threats to kill his mother, placing her in fear for her life. As officers took Covington into custody, he stated he “should have hit that b***h,” referring to his mother, and ranted about more assaults when he gets out of jail. Once at booking, deputies say he attempted to bring an oxycodone pill into the jail.

Crime & Arrests

Nashville Police charge Isaiah Yancey with 0.5 grams of marijuana during a traffic stop

September 10, 20221 min read jsteen

24-year-old Isaiah ‘Zay’ Kahlil Yancey was booked on a citation this week after Metro Nashville Police found 0.5 grams of marijuana inside his gym bag during a traffic stop outside the Mercy Lounge on July 22nd for alleged expired tags. Officers say there was a “strong smell” of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and when asked, Yancy volunteered that there was a small amount of marijuana in the Altima.

Crime & Arrests

James Blake Milliken vandalizes his girlfriend’s car when confronted about his drinking

September 10, 20221 min read jsteen

Olivia Corneto says she drove her boyfriend, 23-year-old James Blake Milliken, to his Bellevue apartment from a bar downtown on August 1st, just before 2 a.m. She confronted him about his frequent volume of alcohol consumption, and the two argued. She had enough and began to leave his residence when he followed her and tried to get back inside her vehicle. She says he kicked and punched the doors while yelling and cursing at her. Three doors on the vehicle sustained damage, including dents. Officers documented smears and footprints all over the vehicle and viewed a video of a portion of the incident as Milliken fled when he realized he was being recorded. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was booked on the felony vandalism charge this week.

Crime & Arrests

Shelby Marie Anderson charged in assault of Kelsey Shipp

September 10, 20221 min read jsteen

Kelsey Shipp says 25-year-old Shelby Marie Anderson walked up to her, grabbed her hair, and punched her in the face while dragging her to the ground. Shipp says the assault continued for several more punches and resulted in a fractured collar bone, a lacerated lip, contusions to her head, and a broken fingernail.

Crime & Arrests

Teens Facing Murder & Attempted Murder Charges for shooting at Oscar’s Taco Shop

September 10, 20223 min read jsteen

Homicide Unit detectives this morning charged Dyquan Poole, 19, and Omarian Arrington, 17, with criminal homicide and two counts of attempted criminal homicide in connection with gunfire in the parking lot of Oscar’s Taco Restaurant on Fesslers Lane Friday afternoon that killed a woman and critically injured two men. Jaylen Floyd, 19, is also being charged with evidence tampering after fleeing from an involved vehicle while armed with a gun. The fatally injured female hasn’t been officially identified by MNPD, but close friends have identified her as Destinee (Des/@desbando_). Dillon Bird, 21, and Juan Davila-Hugarte, 18, were critically wounded during the encounter.

Crime & Arrests

Fashion ‘trend setter’ “Image Don” Trey Garriques caught stealing at Dillard’s at the Mall at Green Hills

September 10, 20221 min read jsteen

Things aren’t always as they appear — 23-year-old Trey Garriques has social media pages filled with photographs of him in expensive clothing at expensive restaurants with some of the most expensive backdrops in the city, portraying a well-funded lifestyle. Dillard’s of The Mall at Green Hill would like a word. Store security detailed Garriques on August 11th after observing him conceal 2 pair of designer sunglasses under some other clothing and visit the fitting room. After exiting the fitting room, the wanna-be fashionista made a dash for the door and passed all points of sale. The items were recovered from his person and he was issued a citation for shoplifting. He was booked on the warrant this week.

Crime & Arrests

DUI: Hawkin Thomasson, 19, found passed out behind the wheel; blows 0.199% BAC

September 10, 20221 min read jsteen

19-year-old Hawkin Thomasson was found passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle on R. S. Gass Blvd, at the Medical Examiner’s Office. A citizen was the first person to find him and removed the keys from his vehicle and woke him up by shaking him. As first responders arrived, they got Thomasson out of the vehicle, and he admitted to drinking at least two vodka-based drinks before driving. He was transported to booking for DUI, where he blew a 0.199% BAC, more than double the legal limit in Tennessee. Thomasson messaged Scoop: Nashville unprompted to make sure we knew that he would not give consent for us to post his mugshot or story in our news. Hi, Hawkin.

Crime & Arrests

Brad Adams tells police he did “booger sugar” prior to nodding out & crashing his car

September 9, 20221 min read jsteen

45-year-old Brad Adams was found unconscious behind the wheel of his 2017 Nissan Altima, which had just crashed into a utility pole at the intersection of Hwy 100 and Old Hickory Blvd last month. First responders administered Narcan to Adams, which ushered life back into him. Adams explained he had taken “Booger Sugar,” further clarifying he snorted cocaine. Officers noted both his pinpoint pupils and an empty bottle of vodka in his vehicle. Adams was transported to the hospital and cited for DUI. He was booked on that citation this week.

Crime & Arrests

Miranda Coombs assaults manager of Eddie V’s with a candlestick after fist fighting her date

September 9, 20221 min read jsteen

37-year-old Miranda A. Coombs was jailed Thursday on an outstanding felony warrant in Nashville, charging her with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She was dining at Eddie V’s Prime Seafood in downtown Nashville in March with an “acquaintance” when an argument erupted between the two, and a fist fight broke out at the restaurant. Ross Kovacs, a managing partner of the restaurant, attempted to intervene and was struck in the head with a candlestick holder by Coombs. He sustained a bleeding laceration to the head, and a warrant was taken out for Coombs.

Crime & Arrests

Corey Strickland charged after bashing the bishop in a stairwell at his workplace

September 9, 20221 min read jsteen

Metro Nashville Police responded to HCA Healthcare in the North Gulch after security personnel observed 26-year-old HCA HealthTrust employee Corey Strickland pleasuring himself in a stairwell of the office building. Officers say he had his phone in one hand and his ‘pudding producer’ in the other while completing a non-work-related task in a particular motion. When confronted, Strickland admitted to the adventure and was issued a state citation for indecent exposure. He was booked on that citation this week and will appear in court in November.

Crime & Arrests

Chuck Heron cited for DUI after crashing motorcycle in front of his own house

September 9, 20221 min read jsteen

Just before 1 a.m. on a Saturday morning in August, police responded to the Plum Nelly Circle home of 54-year-old Charles ‘Chuck’ Heron to find him lying in the bushes near the side of the road after he had crashed his motorcycle on the roadway and sustained injuries. He stated he had been drinking earlier in the night and had consumed two Miller Lite tall boys. He appeared to be very intoxicated and then began to fall asleep and become incoherent. He reportedly told one of the Nashville Fire medics he had been drinking and “f-*ked up,” and they relayed that information to officers. He was transported to the hospital for his injuries and level of intoxication and was issued a state citation for DUI. He was booked on that citation this week.

Crime & Arrests

Racheal Holt pulls up to man’s house and beats him with a diaper bag, per report

September 8, 20221 min read jsteen

Police say 22-year-old Racheal Holt arrived at the residence of Julian Sowell in 2020 and just began fighting him and beating him with a diaper bag before swapping to using her hands. Officers documented scratches on the victim’s face, and a witness confirmed the events. Holt fled before officers arrived, and a warrant was issued for her arrest. She was booked into the Metro Nashville Jail Wednesday on that outstanding warrant, charging her with domestic assault.

Crime & Arrests

DUI: Kaedee Miller Hembree says she took Seroquel and Percocet prior to nodding out on interstate

September 8, 20221 min read jsteen

Police say 28-year-old Kaedee Miller Hembree struck one vehicle on Interstate 40 on Wednesday before coming to a stop in a lane of traffic just before 7 p.m. Responding TDOT crews report she was awake and alert and then suddenly lost consciousness while they were present. Nashville Fire responded and administered Narcan and eventually revived Miller, who admitted to taking her prescribed Seroquel along with an unprescribed Percocet shortly before driving. She was charged with DUI 2nd (she was convicted of a DUI in March in Murfreesboro) and driving on a revoked license.

Crime & Arrests

Floyd Thomas charged with child abuse after daughter beaten from her “neck to her ankles” with belt

September 8, 20222 min read jsteen

A fifteen-year-old girl says her father, 57-year-old Floyd Thomas Jr., brutally beat her with a belt on September 7th. She told police she had taken a walk around her Antioch neighborhood with her sister, which she does every today, but on this day, her father felt the walk took too long. When she returned home, she says he took a belt and began to beat her with it, hitting her over and over again, and when she went to her bedroom, he followed her and continued to beat her as she screamed. She was able to escape and run to a nearby home, where police and first responders were called. Officers documented injuries “from her neck to her ankles,” including large welts to her upper back, visible welts, and redness covering her arms and legs. She also had a mark on her face. Police found the father at his home, and he claims he only spanked her on the bed, but she moved around; he explained she recently had to move to a new school due to behavioral issues. Thomas was charged with child abuse and transported to booking.

Crime & Arrests

Jennifer Biles charged with assault of boyfriend after he calls her a b**ch.

September 8, 20221 min read jsteen

45-year-old Jennifer Biles is charged with the domestic assault of her boyfriend, Nick Sorendo, after punching him in the head several times because he called her a b**ch. An off-duty Ashland City Police Officer witnessed the assault at Rains Ave & Wedgewood Ave just after 7 p.m. and detained her until Metro Nashville Police arrived.

Crime & Arrests

Marlon Ramirez charged after coming home late & drunk, headbutting his older brother

September 8, 20221 min read jsteen

21-year-old Marlon Ramirez came home extremely intoxicated at 1 a.m. Wednesday, causing a scene with his family. He was arguing with other members of his family who confronted him when his older brother, Edwin Ramirez, attempted to intervene and de-escalate the situation. While he was separating everyone involved, Marlon reportedly head-butted his older brother in the face… an act he likely now regrets. The victim did not wish to prosecute, but due to the family relationship, officers charged Marlon with domestic assault and transported him to booking.

Crime & Arrests

Jonathan Loyd charged with rape of ex-wife during pimp & hoes themed role-play

September 8, 20222 min read jsteen

37-year-old Jonathan ‘Jonny’ Loyd was jailed Wednesday on two outstanding warrants charging him with rape and domestic assault. An August 2022 affidavit filed by his ex-wife, Ashley Smith, details an incident that occurred in October of 2021 when they were divorced but still living together. She says at 7 a.m. on a Monday, Loyd pulled her out of bed by her leg, dragged her down a hallway, and assaulted her while stating he was her pimp and wanted all of her money, and telling her ‘snitches get stitches.’ She says she was forced to perform a sex act and that once he ‘finished’ he calmed down and she was free to go #Details in story may be disturbing#

Crime & Arrests

Woman says Alex Zavolta aggressively growled at her during kitchen assault

September 8, 20221 min read jsteen

Sara Jarvis says she was making lunch for her nephew in the kitchen of the home she shares with other family members when her sister’s part-time boyfriend, 34-year-old Alex Zavolta, walked into the kitchen and grabbed her by the wrist, and spun her around before pushing her shoulders. She says that Zavolta, who also lives at the residence with the family, was acting very aggressively and growled at her during the assault. The victim had several finger-shaped bruises that appeared on the day after the incident.