Crime Stoppers cash offered for ID of cloned card crook

Franklin Police and Crime Stoppers are offering a cash reward for information on the identity of this suspect, wanted for using a cloned debit card to purchase more than $1,000 in gift cards at the Cool Springs Target.

Information in this case is worth
up to $1,000 with an anonymous call to
Crime Stoppers: (615) 794-4000

suspect-1

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Officers investigating hit and run crash tackle, disarm suspect who pulled gun

This morning at 2:26 am, officers were summoned to a hit and run crash in the 1000 block of Fair Street. Witnesses advised that the suspect vehicle pulled into a nearby apartment complex after crashing into a parked car. Officers found the heavily-damaged, unoccupied Nissan Sentra in the parking lot and determined that it belonged to a resident.

Christopher Denham Age: 32 Franklin, Tennessee

Christopher Denham
Age: 32
Franklin, Tennessee

Officers made contact with the driver, 32-year-old Christopher Denham, at the apartment who admitted to crashing into the parked car. While officers were speaking to Denham, he suddenly lunged for and grabbed a gun he had stowed in the apartment. Officers tackled Denham and were able to disarm him during the struggle. The .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun had a fully-loaded magazine with a round already in the chamber.

Officers determined that Denham was impaired at the time of the crash and found alcohol, drugs, and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle. Denham was charged with two felony counts of Aggravated Assault, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, DUI, Failure to Report a Crash, Leaving the Scene of a Crash, and No Insurance. He is free on the $47,000 bond set by the Magistrate and due in court 03/09/2017 at 1:00 pm.

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Columbia man arrested for fabricating robbery, impersonating police officer

Steven McCanless Age: 22 Columbia, Tennessee

Steven McCanless
Age: 22
Columbia, Tennessee

A Columbia man was arrested this morning after detectives determined that his report of being robbed in Franklin was fabricated. Detectives began investigating after 22-year-old Steven McCanless said he was robbed on January 26 in a Peytonsville Road parking lot. McCanless told officers that he was forcibly robbed of his wallet and a gun by a suspect he encountered there after responding to an online ad.

While investigating the robbery, detectives determined that McCanless lied about the incident in an attempt to retaliate against the subject he claimed had robbed him. An investigation by Franklin and Brentwood Police revealed that the meeting McCanless arranged actually occurred at a Brentwood motel, that McCanless impersonated a police officer during that meeting, that a robbery never occurred, and that nothing ever occurred in Franklin.

Charged with two counts of Filing a False Report, Criminal Impersonation, and Tampering with Evidence, McCanless is free on the $40,000 bond set by the Magistrate. He is due in court on March 9 at 1:00 pm.

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Police arrest two for Felony Theft after suspects flee from security

Franklin Police Officers arrested two felony suspects who fled from Walmart security Sunday afternoon. Officers were summoned to the Mallory Lane Walmart at 12:45 pm after two suspects stole clothing and two computers before fleeing from security.

Ricky Chears Age: 21 Nashville, Tennessee

Ricky Chears
Age: 21
Nashville, Tennessee

Responding officers were provided with a description of the getaway vehicle and spotted the white Ford F-150 on Cool Springs Boulevard near Mallory Ln. Officers stopped the vehicle, driven by 21-year-old Ricky Chears of Nashville, and found stolen merchandise valued at more than $1,000 in the truck. Officers determined that Chears and his passenger, Kenneth Booker, committed the theft together before running from security. Both suspects were arrested.

Kenneth Booker Age: 50 Old Hickory, Tennessee

Kenneth Booker
Age: 50
Old Hickory, Tennessee

Chears was charged with Driving on a Revoked License, Felony Theft, and Criminal Trespass (because of his lifetime ban from Walmart stores). He was released on the $4,000 bond set by the Magistrate. Booker, a convicted felon with a violent history, was charged with Felony Theft and Criminal Trespass (because of his lifetime ban from Walmart stores). He was released on the $2,500 bond set by the Magistrate. Both suspects are due in court 03/02/2017 at 1:00 pm. 

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Investigation leads to arrest of sex offender for failing to register, as required

Vittorio Villella Age: 52 Franklin, Tennessee

Vittorio Villella
Age: 52
Franklin, Tennessee

Franklin Police, working with Federal authorities, identified a resident who had failed to register as a sex offender following his 2009 conviction in a child sex case out of Madison County, Alabama. Detectives determined that 52-year-old Vittorio Villella had been living in Franklin for more than eight years, intentionally avoiding his requirement to register.

Villella was arrested on February 17, charged with Violation of the Sex Offender Registry. He is free on the $40,000 bond set by the Magistrate and due in court 03/02/2017 at 1:00 pm.

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Alabama man arrested after attempting to force his way into estranged wife’s home while holding a gun

Bryan K. Hicks Age: 55 Hollywood, Alabama

Bryan K. Hicks
Age: 55
Hollywood, Alabama

An Alabama man is free on bond after attempting to force his way into his estranged wife’s home while threatening her with the gun he was holding. On 02/19/2017 at 1:10 am, officers were summoned to the home on Finnhorse Lane where the disturbance had caught the attention of neighbors. Responding officers encountered the suspect, 55-year-old Bryan Hicks, as he was driving down Long Lane. During a traffic stop officers discovered a loaded handgun in Hicks’ possession.

Charged with the felony offenses of Aggravated Domestic Assault and Attempted Aggravated Burglary, Hicks is free on the $50,000 bond set by the Magistrate. He is due in court 03/02/2017.

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FPD seeking two for Theft, Disorderly Conduct

Franklin Police and Crime Stoppers are offering a cash reward for information on two unidentified suspects wanted for Theft and Disorderly Conduct.

At around 6:00 pm on February 13, the suspects separately entered the T.J. Maxx at 545 Cool Springs Boulevard. Each then attempted to return merchandise stolen from another T.J. Maxx store. During the attempted transaction, the suspects became disruptive, creating a disturbance.

Franklin Police now want the suspects for Theft and Disorderly Conduct. Information about their identity is worth up to $1,000 with an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers: (615) 794-4000.

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Reward offered for whereabouts of Lowe’s thief, Christy Davis

wanted

On January 25, we published this surveillance picture of a woman wanted for stealing a $400 framing nailer from Lowe’s. She has, since, been identified and a Crime Stoppers reward is now being offered for information on the whereabouts of 37-year-old Christy L. Davis, a convicted felon with ties to Ashland City and Nashville.

Information on Davis’ whereabouts
is worth up to $1,000 with an anonymous call
to Crime Stoppers: (615) 794-4000
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DUI driver charged with Assault after intentionally spitting on police officer during arrest

Lance Goodman  Age: 34  Brentwood, Tennessee

Lance Goodman
Age: 34
Brentwood, Tennessee

A DUI suspect is free on bond after intentionally spitting on a Franklin Police Officer during his arrest. As 12:25 this morning, an officer stopped 34-year-old Lance Goodman for traveling 55 in a 25 MPH zone, on Hillsboro Road near Claude Yates Drive. The officer determined that Goodman was impaired and arrested him.

During his arrest, Goodman became irate and began cursing at officers. Once in handcuffs, Goodman “inhaled deeply” and intentionally spit on the police officer.

Goodman, charged with Speeding, DUI, Driving on a Suspended Driver’s License, Violation of the Implied Consent Law, and Assault, is free on the $6,000 bond set by the Magistrate. He is due in court March 2 at 1:00 pm.

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Suspect charged in Hardee’s robbery, committed two others in Alabama

William Allison Age: 46 Athens, Alabama

William Allison
Age: 46
Athens, Alabama

The suspect who robbed a Franklin Hardee’s, putting employees on the ground at gunpoint, Saturday night has been arrested. An intensive investigation has been underway since the February 11 robbery that occurred at 8:20 pm at the Murfreesboro Road restaurant.

Franklin Police Detectives and investigators from Athens, Alabama, who were investigating two similar robberies in their jurisdiction, linked 46-year-old William Allison, of Athens, to all three robberies. The connection was made after Athens Police began reviewing other robberies in the region for similarities.

Allison was taken into custody last night when he returned to his Athens home. Evidence linking Allison to the Franklin robbery was located in his red Hyundai Sonata – the getaway car he fled in following the Franklin Hardee’s robbery.

A criminal warrant charging Allison with Aggravated Robbery has been obtained by Franklin Police. Allison is currently being held in Athens, charged with two counts of First Degree Robbery there. Chief Deborah Faulkner said, “This case was quickly resolved due to the tireless efforts of Franklin Police Officers and the strong partnerships and communication networks in the law enforcement community.”

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