Franklin Police are investigating an armed robbery that happened at a condominium community during the overnight hours. At 10:30 Monday night, officers were summoned to the complex at 1101 Downs Boulevard after two men robbed a resident at gunpoint in the parking lot.
The male victim was arriving home when two men approached him after he had parked and gotten out of his vehicle. Both suspects displayed handguns and announced the robbery. The victim complied, and the suspects fled on foot with the victim’s valuables. Both suspects are young black males.
Franklin Police are offering a $5,000 cash reward for information
leading to the identification and capture of the suspects. Anyone with information is urged to call Franklin Police: (615) 794-2513.
Officer Leigh Ann Hester and Chief Deborah Faulkner, EdD
At a special ceremony this morning on the Plaza at Franklin Police Headquarters, a Franklin Police Honor Guard lowered the Blue Star Flag, which honors active duty military members serving during a period of war or hostilities. The flag has flown in front of Franklin Police Headquarters in honor of Officer Leigh Ann Hester, who recently returned home from an 18-month deployment in Afghanistan. The deployment was Hester’s third since 2004.
Officer Hester is a Sergeant First Class in the Army National Guard, and was assigned to the 269th Military Police Company. She is a highly distinguished Silver Star recipient; in fact, Hester is the first woman soldier to receive the Silver Star for direct combat action.
“Being a police officer is rewarding, and I can’t imagine doing anything other than being a soldier and a cop; I love both,” said Hester. “I’m glad to be home, and am honored to serve our Country, and Franklin.”
At a ceremony attended by fellow officers, City Administrator Eric Stuckey, and Dr. Ken Moore – Franklin’s Mayor, Chief Deborah Faulkner presented the Blue Star Flag to Officer Hester and welcomed her back home, to the FPD. “We’re family,” said Chief Faulkner. “We are happy to have Officer Hester home safe, and so proud of her service, to our Country, and community.”
More than 30% of the Franklin Police Department is made up of US Military Veterans.
Franklin Police credit the press, Crime Stoppers, and the community for the identification and arrest of Reed Alan Ammons. On 07/24/2015, the Department released video of an unidentified man stealing from Target. A Crime Stoppers tip led to the identification of the man in the tape as Ammons.
Reed Ammons was arrested last week. Charged with Theft, Ammons is free on a $5,000 bond; he is due in court 08/20/2015 at 1:00pm.
Security surveillance, cash rewards, and an engaged community leave criminals with nowhere to hide. The Department is thankful when all of these things work together to identify criminals, and bring them to justice.
Silvestre Orpeza-Balderas Date of Birth: 08/12/1980 801 Del Rio Pike, O-1 Franklin, TN 37064
Silvestre Orpeza-Balderas of Franklin remains jailed this morning on a $250,000 bond. Franklin Police Detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest, Wednesday, immediately after learning that he had sex with a 13-year-old family friend; Balderas is 35.
After Balderas suspected that he was being sought by police, he turned off his phone, abandoned his apartment, and failed to show up for work. This prompted Franklin Police to publish an alert enlisting the public’s help to find Balderas, for fear that he was preparing to flee the area. The intense publicity that followed pressured Balderas into surrendering, and he unexpectedly turned himself in to Deputies at the Williamson County Courthouse yesterday afternoon.
Charged with Aggravated Statutory Rape, Balderas is due in court 08/27/2015 at 1:00pm. Additional charges may be filed in this case.
Balderas surrendered himself to police a short time ago at the Williamson County Courthouse. He is now in custody. Balderas’ new booking photograph, court date, and bond information will be updated as they become available.
UPDATE: 08/13/2015 3:30 pm CST: Balderas surrendered himself to police a short time ago at the Williamson County Courthouse. He is now in custody. An updated booking photograph, court date, and bond information will be posted when more information becomes available.
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Previously Released: Franklin Police are seeking the whereabouts of an accused child molester, now on the run. Silvestre Orpeza-Balderas, 35, of Franklin is wanted for Aggravated Statutory Rape. Investigators have uncovered evidence that he molested a 13-year-old family friend. Balderas knows that he is wanted, and is now on the run; he may be planning to flee to Mexico. Additional charges against Balderas are forthcoming.
In an attempt to evade authorities, Balderas has abandoned his apartment at 801 Del Rio Pike, and is driving a beige mini-van with a black hood. If you have information on Balderas’ whereabouts, call Franklin Police: (615) 794-2513. If you spot him or his van, call 911.
Franklin Police want to identify a group of felons who made off with more than 50 Polo brand shirts valued at an estimated $1,200.
At 8:30pm Monday, three women entered the CoolSprings Galleria Belk and, almost immediately, began filling empty shopping bags with the designer children’s shirts. They fled from the store and to a waiting black Acura with a temporary license plate. The women, who may have been men dressed as women, were accompanied by the man also pictured here.
This same crew is responsible for taking 70 shirts, valued at approximately $1,800, in July. Information regarding these felons is worth up to $1,000 with an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers: (615) 794-4000.
UPDATE: 08/14/2015: All three existing classes are now full. A waiting list has been established for additional offerings, for Spring 2016.
————————————– Released 08/10/2015:
In 2013, 45% of crashes in Williamson County involved licensed drivers between 15 and 24 years old, and traffic collisions are the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S Because of these two things combined, Franklin Police and local businesses have teamed up to bring young drivers a clear perspective of life behind the wheel.
Bringing Awareness Through Training and Life Experiences (B.A.T.T.L.E.) is an 8-hour program that teaches teen drivers safe behind-the-wheel behavior through an interactive, hands-on experience with officers.
BATTLE explores the rules of the road, the dangers of distracted and impaired driving, occupant protection, and dangerous driving behaviors. Qualified applicants include Williamson County teens with a parent’s permission and a valid Tennessee driver’s license or learner’s permit.
November 14, 2015
BATTLE does not replace and cannot be substituted for traditional driver’s education, and is made possible by Hyundai of Cool Springs, Nissan of Cool Springs, Infiniti of Cool Springs, Jet’s Pizza, and the Franklin Police Department.
The Williamson County Fair, at the Agricultural Expo Park, in Franklin, starts Friday. The esteemed annual event is expected to, once again, draw large crowds. The fair runs from August 7-15. For fair hours and details, visit WilliamsonCountyFair.org.
Franklin Police, partnering with other City Departments, Williamson County Government, and TDOT, have put together a traffic plan that will assist fairgoers, and motorists simply passing through affected areas, to reach their destinations. Dozens of extra Franklin Police Officers have been dedicated to the effort. Heavy congestion, however, is anticipated – as is the case with large-scale public events.
Fairgoers are asked to consider alternate routes that may ease their travel into and out of the fair, while easing congestion in the already busy I-65 construction zone near the Peytonsville Road interchange. North/South commuters hoping to avoid fair traffic, altogether, may consider Columbia Avenue or Lewisburg Pike as alternates.
To access the fair from the north: Exit from I65 South to Highway 96E (Exit 65), and turn left Take 96E (Murfreesboro Rd) to Arno Rd, & turn right From Arno Rd, turn right onto Gosey Hill Rd, & then right onto Long Lane, which will take you to fair parking
To access the fair from the south: Exit from I65 North onto TN-840 E Exit onto Peytonsville-Trinity Road (Exit 34) Turn left at the bottom of the ramp, & then
Left onto Peytonsville Rd Turn right on Long Lane, and proceed to fair parking
Heavy volume delays in and around the area of the fair should be expected;
backups may affect secondary roads, especially during the evening rush.
Follow @FranklinTNPD on Twitter
for real-time police news, information, and traffic
related to the Williamson County Fair.
