Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) Chief John Drake last week announced a new Violent Crimes Division to investigate car jackings, armed robberies, and other violent incidents of an apparent serial nature.
According to an MNPD press release, this new division becomes effective December 1.
“Precision policing is one of the three key pillars of our police department, in addition to organizational excellence and community engagement,” Drake said in the press release.
“The new Violent Crimes Division will take a precision county-wide approach to identify and arrest those persons in our community whose acts of violence pose real threats to the safety of Nashvillians and businesses.”
Lieutenant Charles Beasley, who currently leads the Hermitage Precinct’s Investigations Unit, will lead the new Violent Crimes Division.
“That model had been in temporary effect since late August,” the MNPD press release said.
“During that time the special robbery initiative has made a total of 66 arrests related to robbery investigations and recovered 33 suspected crime guns.”
MNPD officials said in a separate press release last week that they charged Devonte Jones, 19, with aggravated kidnapping and robbery. This, for allegedly carjacking a woman outside an apartment complex in the 3900 block of Bell Road. He subsequently and allegedly escaped after he wrecked the stolen vehicle on the I-24 exit ramp to Shelby Avenue and forced his way into another motorist’s car, the press release said.
“The carjacking victim was sitting in her silver Ford SUV when Jones allegedly approached her and shined a bright flashlight into her eyes, threatening to shoot her if she did not give him her vehicle. She complied and Jones drove off, eventually wrecking on the I-24 exit ramp onto Shelby Avenue,” according to the MNPD press release.
Jones is currently in jail in lieu of $105,000 bond, the MNPD press release said.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Metropolitan Nashville Police Car” by Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
