Franklin man arrested after peering over bathroom stalls at children

Jose Medina, Age: 46 | Franklin, TN

A Franklin man is free on bond after police arrested him for peeping over the bathroom stalls in the women’s restroom at King’s Bowl. The victims in this case were a 12 and 14-year-old girl, and their mom.

The suspect, 46-year-old Jose Medina, was identified after witnesses were able to get the license plate off of the gold-colored van he was driving. Using that license plate and a previous booking photo, officers identified Medina as the suspect and arrested him outside of his Franklin home shortly after the incident.

Charged with three counts of Observation Without Consent (x2 misdemeanors and x1 felony count), Medina is free on bond and due in court at 9:00 am on August 16.

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22-2859

Columbia Man Facing Federal Charges After Resisting Arrest by Franklin Police Officers

(Information courtesy the United States Department of Justice)

NASHVILLE – A federal indictment, unsealed this week, charges a Columbia, Tennessee, man with drug distribution and firearms charges, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin.

Roy Gene Nicholson, III, 26, was indicted by a federal grand jury last month and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Nicholson was arrested on June 15 by the United States Marshals Service and is currently in federal custody.

The charges are the result of an incident on April 24, 2022, where Nicholson was stopped on I-65 in Williamson County, Tenn., by an officer with the Franklin Police Department.  According to the indictment, when the officer approached the car, he observed a pistol on the front passenger seat and smelled an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.  The officer attempted to detain Nicholson and a physical struggle ensued.  Nicholson was able to re-enter his vehicle and as two officers attempted to remove him from the car, Nicholson accelerated, dragging both officers for a distance and knocking them to the ground.  The legs of one officer were run over by the vehicle as it sped away.

Nicholson was later arrested approximately one mile away and was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm, marijuana, and more than $3,600 in cash.  A pink backpack found on a sidewalk nearby, contained approximately 200 grams of marijuana and plastic baggies.  Officers had observed the pink backpack in Nicholson’s car during the earlier attempt to arrest him.

If convicted, Nicholson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Franklin Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Herbert L. Bunton, III is prosecuting the case.

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Franklin Police Officer assaulted while making arrest

Lisa Flowers Gary
Age: 59
Nashville, TN

A 59-year-old woman is out on bond after assaulting a Franklin Police Officer. Saturday afternoon, officers were summoned to Lifetime Athletic to help with a woman who was creating a disturbance.

Arriving officers found Lisa Flowers Gary drunk and belligerent. After she was highly uncooperative, officers arrested Gary. She resisted, kicking an officer in the face, chest, and stomach while being placed into the back seat of a police car. On her way to jail, Gary mentioned several firearms she owns, making repeated threats to harm the officer and his family.

Charged with Assault on a Public Servant, Gary is free on the $108,000 bond set by the Magistrate. She is due in court on July 28, at 1:00 pm.

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South Franklin serial auto burglar identified, arrested

Edwin Andrews
Age: 35
Franklin, TN

Franklin Police have captured a man they believe to be responsible for a series of auto burglaries along the W. Main St. and Downs Blvd. corridors.

For the past several months area residents have reported different unlocked vehicles being burglarized overnight. Investigating officers developed 35-year-old Edwin Andrews, of Franklin, as a suspect. When officers went to arrest Andrews at his W. Main St. home, Monday night, he retreated inside and hid in a crawlspace. Officers who chased Andrews into the home discovered several stolen items, including a handgun.

Charged with Criminal Impersonation, Evading Arrest, Felony Theft, Drug Possession, and Auto Burglary, Andrews remains jailed on the $14,000 bond set by the Magistrate. Additional charges are anticipated in this case. Alert citizens and proactive policing led to Andrews’ identification and arrest.

Franklin Police urge residents to remove valuables, especially firearms, from their vehicles each night and to lock their car doors.

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Update: Kohl’s Shoplifter, identified as David Baker, arrested

David Baker
Age: 43
Franklin, TN

On May 24, Franklin Police asked for your help with identifying a man who shoplifted $375 in women’s clothing from the Mallory Lane Kohl’s. Several tips came in, identifying the thief as 43-year-old David Baker, of Franklin.

Baker, a convicted felon, currently on probation, was arrested Thursday. Baker was found in possession of drugs at the time of his arrest. Charged with Theft, Heroin Possession, and Violation of Probation, Baker is being held without bond.

Franklin Police want to thank everyone who called and texted in tips, saying that without an engaged community and citizens, Baker would have likely eluded identification and capture.

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22-1728

 

Two arrested after firing water pellet gun from car

Cassidy Rogers
Age: 22
Franklin, TN

Wednesday night, two people were arrested in Franklin after firing a water pellet gun from their car at a couple of strangers outside a Murfreesboro Road gas station, at 9:45 pm. Some tense moments followed after the victims reported seeing someone in a black SUV holding a rifle and someone in that vehicle saying, “go, go, go,” before hearing a loud pop that the couple believed to be a gunshot.

Officers converged on the area, quickly spotting and stopping the suspect vehicle. Inside, they found a water pellet gun used to shoot “orbeez,” a pair of brass knuckles, open alcohol, and drug contraband.

Jaden Bak
Age: 19
Franklin, TN

Jaden Bak, 19, and 22-year-old Cassidy Rogers were both arrested and charged with Assault and Disorderly Conduct. Rogers is facing an additional charge of Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, for the brass knuckles. Bak is facing additional charges, including Underage Consumption of Alcohol, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Underage Possession of Vape Cartridges. Both are free on a $1,000 bond set by the Williamson County Magistrate. The couple is due in court on July 14.

Police responded to an earlier call, in downtown Franklin, where a 10-year-old girl and her mom were hit by similar projectiles shot from a passing car.

Franklin Police say they will not tolerate assaults like these on innocent and unsuspecting community members, and that arresting & charging offenders will be their prescriptive response.

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22-1816

Franklin Police Officer assaulted while arresting drunk driver

Nikolas Sowden
Age: 38
Dawsonville, GA

Shortly after midnight, Wednesday, an officer on patrol spotted a vehicle blocking the road at Baker’s Bridge at Carothers. The driver, 38-year-old Nikolas Sowden, had fallen asleep at the wheel. Officers determined that he was impaired, and arrested him.

Sowden’s passenger, 31-year-old Eion Graham was also impaired. After becoming belligerent with officers who were attempting to arrest the driver, Graham himself was arrested.

Eion Graham
Age: 31
Baltimore, MD

During the ordeal, Sowden, the driver, attacked the officer, telling him, “I’m gonna [explicative] you up,” before struggling with the officer and then kicking the officer in the head. Thankfully, the officer was not seriously hurt.

Sowden, charged with DUI, Obstructing Traffic, Resisting Arrest, and Assault on a First Responder, remains jailed on the $5,000 bond that was set by the Magistrate.

Graham, charged with Public Intoxication, remains behind bars on a $1,000 bond. Both are due in court on July 7.

Drive Drunk, Get Nailed.
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22-1801

Drunk driver held after second DUI

Taylor Reynolds
Age: 23
Spring Hill, TN

A 23-year-old Spring Hill man remains behind bars after being arrested for his second DUI early Sunday morning.

Officers stopped Taylor Reynolds after they saw him weaving across several lanes of traffic on I-65 near Peytonsville Rd. at 3:38, Sunday morning. This after concerned citizens called in to report that he was driving erratically.

Reynolds was arrested for (1) his second DUI, (2) Driving on a Suspended License, and (3) Reckless Driving, after officers determined that he was impaired.

Reynolds remains jailed on the $14,000 bond set by the Magistrate. He is due in court on June 23.

Drive Drunk, Get Nailed
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22-1567

Officers recovering after being dragged, run over by fleeing suspect

Two Franklin Police Officers were injured yesterday after a fleeing suspect drug them from his car, running one of the officers over. At 10:20, Sunday morning, an officer stopped 26-year-old Roy Nicholson, of Columbia, on I-65 N, between Murfreesboro Rd. and McEwen Drive. The Officer, who was initially investigating a traffic violation, asked Nicholson to step out of his car after seeing a gun in the vehicle and smelling marijuana. Once outside of the car, Nicholson began actively resisting the officer.

In this dramatic dash-cam video, you see Nicholson break away from the officer, get back into his car where a firearm was present, and then drag Officer Dustyn Stevens and an assisting Officer, Matt Lamarr, down the Interstate, before running over Officer Stevens during his getaway.

Roy Nicholson
Age: 26
Columbia, TN

Citizens who saw this occurring followed the suspect vehicle, providing updated location information that helped additional responding officers locate and take Nicholson into custody outside of the Franklin Walmart immediately following the assault.

Stevens, a four-year Franklin Police Officer, was transported to Vanderbilt, where he was treated and released. Officer Lamar’s injuries appeared to be superficial, not requiring immediate medical treatment. Lamarr is a 16-year Franklin Police veteran.

Nicholson, charged with x2 counts of Aggravated Assault Against a First Responder and Felony Evading is free on the $40,000 bond set by the Magistrate. He is due in court at 1:00 on June 9. Additional charges are expected in this case.

Franklin Police say it is amazing that no one was more seriously injured, and that what we see in this video clearly shows the importance of drivers adhering to Tennessee’s Move Over Law.

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Police arrest two in the 2020 murder of Jamarcus Esmon

Franklin Police arrested two suspects today in the 2020 murder of Jamarcus Esmon. Esmon was only 26 when he was gunned down on Edgewood Boulevard on June 27, 2020. Franklin Detectives developed evidence that they recently presented to a Williamson County Grand jury, identifying 23-year-old Kiontez Waters as the shooter. The Grand Jury indicted Waters, charging him with First Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault Resulting in Death, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. Waters is being held on a $100,000 bond.

That same Grand Jury heard investigator testimony against 32-year-old Stephanie Holt, and indicted her for aiding Waters following Esmon’s murder. Her bond was set at $10,000.

Waters, formerly of Franklin, was residing in Nashville. Holt, also previously from Franklin, now resides in Columbia. Franklin and Metro Police arrested Waters this afternoon outside a Spring Hill gas station. Franklin and Columbia Police arrested Holt a short time later at her Columbia home.

The violence that was perpetrated against Jamarcus Esmon deeply impacted the Franklin community, especially his loved ones. Today’s arrests were a result of tireless work by investigators, who personally called Esmon’s family with news of the arrests moments after they were made.

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