Teen in Stolen SUV Suspected in Vehicle Crimes Arrested

Violent Crimes detectives early today located a stolen Toyota Sequoia traveling in East Nashville that officers had attempted to stop on Tuesday at 5 a.m. after seeing the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Gallatin Pike. Officers stopped pursuing the driver on Tuesday after he ran stop signs and stop lights at excessive speeds to elude capture.

Just after midnight today, Violent Crimes detectives located the SUV which again fled from them at a high rate of speed. An MNPD helicopter pilot followed from above relaying information to ground units. Spike strips were successfully deployed. The SUV traveled into Madison where the 14-year-old male driver stopped on Delaware Avenue. He and his passengers fled on foot. Canine Officer Garrett Reingardt saw their direction of flight and drove to Dueling Avenue where he and his partner Wick took the 14-year-old into custody. He had tossed a handgun and his cell phone prior to his arrest. The other occupants of the SUV were not apprehended.

The teen is charged in Juvenile Court with theft of a vehicle, juvenile handgun possession, evading arrest, reckless driving, driving without a license, and possession of burglary tools. In January 2024, at age 13, he was charged in Juvenile Court with vehicle theft and evading arrest. In September 2024, at age 14, he was charged in Juvenile Court with vehicle theft, theft of a firearm, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of a crash involving personal injury after he wrecked a stolen car on Gallatin Pike at Shelton Avenue in East Nashville.

The Toyota Sequoia was taken from a Brush Hill Road residence overnight Tuesday. The investigation continues into the teen's potential involvement in burglaries and vehicle crimes.