logo
Despite 57 arrests, MJPD says holiday weekend saw decline in crimes

Despite 57 arrests, MJPD says holiday weekend saw decline in crimes

Yahoo31-05-2025
Mt. Juliet Police say the city experienced a drop in crimes against property and persons over the Memorial Day weekend.
These types of crimes, which MJPD says directly impact city businesses and residents, experienced a 25% drop.
'While Mt. Juliet is already one of the safest cities in the region, this trend reflects our collective vigilance and dedication to a safe community,' MJPD said.
Despite the fewer reported crimes, officers arrested 57 individuals, 88% of which were non-city residents.
Among the arrested were 17 wanted individuals, five impaired drivers, seven drug-related offenders, 19 individuals driving with revoked or suspended licenses, four shoplifters, four reckless drivers and one wanted person who attempted to flee from an officer to avoid arrest.
MJPD released data showing Mt. Juliet has one of the lowest crime rates in the Middle Tennessee area, which the department attributes to proactive police work.
Residents in Mt. Juliet have criticized Nashville and Davidson County for 'an inability to keep their criminals there.' Earlier this year, Wilson County Sheriff Robert Bryan said the county has to deal with 'what Davidson County doesn't.'
Law enforcement agencies in Wilson County utilize license plate readers to find vehicles either stolen or tied to wanted individuals. Nashville does not use this technology.
License plate readers used by MJPD often spot vehicles associated with thefts or wanted individuals from Nashville due to the city's proximity to the boundary between Wilson and Davidson counties.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Lansing schools made security upgrades over the summer. Here's what's new
Lansing schools made security upgrades over the summer. Here's what's new

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Lansing schools made security upgrades over the summer. Here's what's new

LANSING — The metal detectors that moved into Dwight Rich School of the Arts late last school year will still be around when students return on Wednesday, Aug. 20. And a 'secure vestibule,' which prevents parents, volunteers and strangers from freely entering the school's hallways, also is being built at the K-8 building in southwest Lansing. Secure vestibules were built over the summer and are ready to be used at Attwood New Tech Magnet School, which serves elementary and middle school grades, and Lyons School and Forest View Elementary School, two elementary buildings. The vestibules are just one of the school safety features, planned long ago, that will greet students and parents this school year, district officials said. There also is fencing around the elementary- and middle-grade buildings, damage-resistant film on windows, and camera upgrades and installations, said Kristina Sleight, chief operating officer of the Lansing School District. 'We're happy to have them in the schools,' she said of returning students. 'We hope that they feel as safe and secure as we know that they are. We appreciate parents' feedback when we're looking to do these types of projects at our schools. We're just excited to see our kiddos.' Lansing School District officials placed metal detectors and handheld wands at Dwight Rich after a gun was found on campus the Thursday before the long Memorial Day weekend. Metal detectors were already at the high school buildings including Everett High School, where a teenager was found with a gun after officers responded to a fight call at the school on May 27. Paul Elam, chief strategy officer at the Okemos-based Michigan Public Health Institute and a leader in the development and operation of Advance Peace Lansing, estimated, based on conversations he has had with Lansing teens, that there's over 100 guns owned by or easily accessible to children and teenagers in the city. 'Children as young as 12 have access to these weapons,' he said earlier this year. 'Guns are everywhere. ... There's not a kid we talk to who doesn't know someone who has a gun, doesn't know someone who's been shot or been shot at or doesn't think guns are easy to acquire.' Sleight said the district annually spends about $1 million on safety improvements. 'There are additional funds that are being made available to school districts to upgrade security features,' she said. 'We've been taking advantage of applying for grants and getting additional funding to update our school facilities. 'We want everybody to feel as safe as we know that they are in our care, so we want to make sure we do have those extra layers of security for our students and for our staff members.' Sleight said the district is 95% done with fencing the appropriate schools, and that two-thirds of the schools now have secure vestibules. Dwight Rich should have its secure vestibule by the second semester. Visitors would get buzzed into the secure vestibule from the outside and then get buzzed into the office for checks before entering the rest of the building. 'Student and staff safety remains our top priority,' school board President Robin Moore said in a statement. 'The addition of cameras, fencing, window film, and secure vestibules reflects the district's ongoing commitment to protecting the well-being of the LSD community.' The district continues to work on drafting a comprehensive safety plan. 'There's currently an audit being done at every single school in conjunction with principals, our public safety department and our district leadership,' Sleight said. Contact editor Susan Vela at svela@ or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing school safety improvements include cameras, secure vestibules Solve the daily Crossword

Federal grand jury charges Florida Keys boat captain in a 2022 parasailing death
Federal grand jury charges Florida Keys boat captain in a 2022 parasailing death

Miami Herald

time12-08-2025

  • Miami Herald

Federal grand jury charges Florida Keys boat captain in a 2022 parasailing death

A federal grand jury charged a Florida Keys boat captain with the death of an Illinois woman who was killed after the parasail she and two children were attached to slammed into the Old Seven Mile Bridge on Memorial Day in 2022. The U.S. Attorney's Office charged 52-year-old Daniel Couch with one count of seaman's manslaughter following the Aug. 7 indictment. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted. Couch was at the helm of a 31-foot boat owned by Lighthouse Parasail out of the Middle Keys city of Marathon, towing Supraja Alaparthi, 33, her 10-year-old son and her 9-year old nephew, who were tethered to a parasail harness several feet in the air behind the vessel around 5 p.m. May 30, 2022. READ MORE: Family of mom whose parasail hit Florida Keys' Old Seven Mile Bridge takes new action A strong storm gust snagged the parasail making it difficult for Couch and his mate to lower Alaparthi and the children, investigators say. The 'pegged' parasail also risked dragging the boat, investigators said. It was Couch's next move that proved fatal and landed him in trouble with the law. Instead of steering the boat side to side and employing other options in which experts say were appropriate to lessen the wind underneath the parasail, Couch took a knife and cut the cable that attached the boat to the harness. He thought the move would cause Alaparthi and the boys to drop to the ocean surface so he could pick them up. Instead, the wind dragged the parasail with the family in tow for miles before they crashed into the iconic span that connects Knights Key in Marathon with Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys. READ MORE: Captain cut parasailing cable before mom and kids slammed into Keys bridge, police say Alaparthi was pronounced dead at a nearby restaurant that rescuers used as a staging area. Her son suffered minor injuries, and her nephew was seriously injured. Florida Fish and Wlidlife Conservation Commission investigators said Couch did not maneuver his boat under the bridge to try to release the family after they hit the span and were trapped in the parasail. Instead, a flats fishing guide who watched the situation unfold sped his boat to the bridge to rescue the woman and children. His two charter passengers performed CPR on Alaparthi and the seriously injured child as the guide took them to paramedics waiting at the restaurant. READ MORE: Boat driver charged in deadly parasailing crash into a Florida Keys bridge The Monroe County State Attorney's Office charged Couch with manslaughter in September 2022. Though he has pleaded not guilty, that case is still pending, said Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield. In the FWC report that led to the state charge, invistigators noted the National Weather Service forecasted high winds, heavy rains and thunderstorms just before Couch took the family out on the water that day. It was not immediately known Monday whether Couch was in custody. Information about his legal representation in the federal case was not immediately available.

Elgin police rank 6th for DUI arrests, per AAIM, falling from last year
Elgin police rank 6th for DUI arrests, per AAIM, falling from last year

Chicago Tribune

time10-08-2025

  • Chicago Tribune

Elgin police rank 6th for DUI arrests, per AAIM, falling from last year

The Elgin Police Department ranked in the top 10 law enforcement agencies making the most drunk driving arrests in 2024, though the ranking dropped from last year's second-place berth. The Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM) released the results of its Illinois DUI Arrest Survey for 2024 that showed Elgin ranked number six. Elgin had 245 DUI arrests, the survey showed. 'Each arrest reflects the hard work and dedication of the officers who put themselves on the line every day. Their efforts help protect lives and prevent families from experiencing the pain of a crash,' said Rita Kreslin, AAIM executive director, in a press release. Last year, Elgin Police Department made 282 arrests to achieve the second-place spot. The change could be a result of different factors, like people using rideshare services to avoid drinking and driving or people staying at home more, said Elgin Sgt. Hector Gutierrez, the department's public information officer. EPD does 'no refusal' campaigns during holidays, including Memorial Day weekend. They allow police to work with prosecutors to obtain a seach warrant against drivers who refuse to take a breathalyzer, blood or urine test during a drunk driving stop or investigation, according to the Kane County State's attorney's office. A campaign is coming up for Labor Day weekend, Gutierrez said. 'We are going to be looking for intoxicated drivers on the roadway to keep everyone safe,' he said. 'Hopefully those (campaigns) resonate with people, and they are taking safety precautions,' Gutierrez said. AAIM's survey showed Det. Paul Dublinski had 22 DUI arrests in Elgin last year. Dublinski is a veteran officer who routinely has the highest number of DUI arrests in the department. 'We have officers who really care about getting DUI drivers off the roadway and making the streets safer for the community,' Gutierrez said. AAIM is an Illinois-only citizen activist group founded in 1982 by victims of drunk driving. Its survey, which started 35 years ago, had an 81% response rate from nearly 700 police agencies around the state in 2024. The survey showed the top 10 police departments were: Aurora remained the first in the state for the second year in a row. Naperville had one of the largest increases in arrests from 2023 to 2024, 51.8%, along with West Chicago, which had a 31.2% increase. The sheriff's department reporting the most DUI arrests was Winnebago County with 387. The top five list included McHenry County with 189 arrests, Cook County with 155, Lake County with 136, and Will County with 133. 'Enforcing DUI laws is demanding but essential work. The entire AAIM organization sincerely appreciates the officers' daily sacrifice, dedication to public safety, and efforts to save lives. We deeply value their constant commitment,' Kreslin said, in the release.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store