Author: Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

Herman Merino assaults man with chain outside of Regal Movie Theater

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

37-year-old Herman Palacios Merino was seen assaulting someone with a chain outside the Regal Movie Theater near Thompson Lane on May 9th. Vanderbilt University Police received a report of assault from Cesar Ramirez, who claimed that Merino approached him and his partner outside the theatre and swung a chain at him, striking Ramirez all over his body. Ramirez sustained injuries to his face, arm, and abdomen. The chain was broken during the altercation and was recovered from the scene as evidence. The incident was also recorded and captured on security camera footage. A warrant was issued, and Merino was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on May 24th.

Jeremy Bauer punches boyfriend in face at Tribe

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

41-year-old Jeremy Bauer was involved in a domestic altercation with his boyfriend, Brett Finch, at Tribe on Church Street on August 9th, 2023. Officers spoke with Finch, who stated that he and Bauer were both drinking at a bar when Bauer walked up to him and punched him in the face. Finch claims this attack was unprovoked. Nicole McDonald, a witness to the crime, told officers that she saw Bauer walk up to Finch, punch him in the face, then leave the bar. A warrant was issued for Bauer that day. Bauer was later taken into custody for domestic assault on May 26th, 2024.

Jorge Beristain-Mayol trespasses inside business, falls asleep in conference room

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

28-year-old Jorge Beristain-Mayol was caught trespassing and resisting officers at a business near 3rd Avenue North on May 25th. When officers arrived on the scene, they spoke with the victim, Kevin Bradley, who claimed that Mayol walked up to the business and looked inside while checking the door handles. Bradley then claims he was alerted via a ring camera and could not see anyone inside. So, Bradley went to the business, opened the front door, and saw Mayol sleeping in the conference room. Proceeding this, the victim became startled and called officers, fearing that something would happen if he tried to wake Mayol up. Officers then found Mayol inside the business, still sleeping when they walked in. Officers proceeded to make loud announcements, but Mayol did not acknowledge them. Officers then woke Mayol up, but he would not give officers one of his arms and kept jerking away while they attempted to detain him. Officers could smell alcohol coming from Mayol, and he also could not tell officers where he was. Mayol was then taken into custody for aggravated criminal trespassing, public intoxication, and resisting arrest.

DUI: Helen Hawk drives on wrong side of road, causes head-on collision after one glass of wine

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

75-year-old Helen Hawk was involved in a vehicle collision while under the influence near South 4th Street and Shelby Avenue on May 24th. Officers responded to a vehicle collision, and upon arrival, they noticed that Hawk had driven onto the Exit 49 ramp, I-24 West, from Shelby Avenue. This resulted in a head-on collision, and Hawk was transported to Skyline Hospital. Officers spoke with Hawk, who stated she had no memory of the incident or being transported to the hospital. Hawk also admitted to officers that she had drunk a glass of wine as well as a vodka drink prior to driving. Officers then conducted numerous sobriety tests on Hawk and saw numerous indicators of impairment, and she was taken into custody for DUI on May 25th.

Miguel Garcia steals Ford F-150 Raptor, tells police “his friend gave him the truck”

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

30-year-old Miguel Garcia was caught stealing a vehicle on May 5th near an intersection On Korean Veterans Boulevard and Hermitage Avenue. Officers responded to a motor vehicle theft report at a Middleton Street apartment residence, speaking with Robert Burnett. Burnett stated that his white Ford F150 was parked at the residence and that it was no longer there when he returned to the residence. Officers then confirmed that the vehicle was not towed and that the victim did not owe any money on the truck before putting a complete report on the vehicle and entering it as stolen. About an hour later, officers responding to an unrelated call noticed the vehicle at the intersection of Korean Veterans Boulevard and Hermitage Avenue. Officers immediately got behind the vehicle and confirmed the license plate before calling the helicopter and initiating a traffic stop. Officers performed a felony takedown and searched the car, finding two glass pipes with residue.
Officers then spoke with Garcia, who stated he was walking around with his friend when he and his friend walked over to Middleton Street. Garcia said his friend opened the door to the truck and got in the driver’s seat. Garcia also claimed that he believed the vehicle was his friend’s and that his friend gave him the truck to use for work. Garcia could not provide a name or description of the friend, and there was no one else with Garcia at the time of the traffic stop. Robert Burnett, the owner of the vehicle, arrived on the scene to recover the vehicle and searched through it, giving all of the items not belonging to him to officers. Burnett gave officers a black backpack that Garcia confirmed was his. The backpack contained marijuana, the vehicle’s registration, and boat keys. The vehicle was valued at more than $60,000. Officers discovered that Garcia did not have a valid driver’s license. Garcia was taken into custody and charged with Property theft, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving without a license on May 6th.

Austin Farrar beats fiancé with broomstick after he doesn’t call her

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

21-year-old Austin Farrar was caught after having a domestic incident with her fiancé, Christian Tyler, at their Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard residence on May 8th. When officers arrived, they spoke with Tyler, who stated that he and his fiancé had argued. Tyler noted the argument occurred because their power was turned off at their residence because he didn’t pay the bill. Tyler also informed officers that he received several messages from Farrar stating that she would severely hurt Tyler when he came home that night. Officers then noticed Tyler’s bruises and lacerations along his arm and head. Tyler stated that on May 6th, two days prior, he had returned home, and he and Farrar started arguing because he did not call Farrar when he said he would earlier. Tyler told officers that during the argument, Farrar struck him in the head with a broomstick, causing his injuries. Tyler stated after she hit him with the broomstick, Farrar struck him again with a chair in the arms and began choking him with both hands around his neck. Farrar was taken into custody on May 8th and was charged with harassment, domestic assault, and aggravated assault.

Richard Douglas violates conditions of release after refusing to leave his mother’s house

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

50-year-old Richard Douglas was seen violating his conditions of release on May 6th near Packard Drive. When officers arrived on the scene, they spoke with Peggy Jackson, his mother, who stated that he was not supposed to be there and that she had an order of protection against Douglas. Jackson also claimed that he would not leave and that Douglass had already been served. Officers took Douglas into custody, and he was charged with a restraining order violation.

Kevin Sinclair deemed too drunk for Nashville International Airport

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

32-year-old Kevin Sinclair was seen drunk by police at Nashville International Airport on April 27th. When officers arrived, they spoke with staff at Tootsie’s bar in the airport terminal. They stated that Sinclair had been kicked out of one bar and was refused service at Tootsie’s. They then pointed Sinclair out, and when officers spoke with him, he stated he had missed his flight because he was at a bar. Officers noticed his slurred speech and inability to stand. Officers then gave him multiple chances to book an Uber and provided an address to an available hotel. Sinclair proceeded to type the wrong address and instead typed in a location in South Carolina. Officers deemed Sinclair was too intoxicated to care for himself, and he was taken into custody for public intoxication.

Sharmaneke Wilson strangles boyfriend after he takes her phone

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

29-year-old Sharmaneke Wilson was involved in a domestic altercation with her boyfriend, Roger Johnson Jr, at her Pierce Road residence on April 29th. When officers arrived, they spoke with Johnson, who stated that he and Wilson had argued. Johnson said the argument was regarding his daughter and occurred 30 minutes before the police arrived. He also claimed that while they were arguing, he took Wilson’s phone, prompting her to put her hands around his neck and try to choke him. Johnson notes that Wilson did not restrict his airflow but scratched his neck as he was trying to escape from her. Johnson called the police immediately after Wilson put her hands on him. Officers observed the scratches on Johnson’s neck before speaking to Wilson, who admitted that she did put her hands around his neck. Due to Johnson’s injuries, officers deemed Wilson to be the primary aggressor, and she was taken into custody for aggravated assault.

DUI: Yenni Perez leaves accident, tells police she didn’t stay because she doesn’t have a license

Ke'Shaun Witherspoon

41-year-old Yenni Perez was seen driving without a license after hit and run incident Near 8th Avenue S on April 29th. When officers arrived, they observed Perez’s vehicle leaving the crash scene. Witnesses immediately alerted them that the vehicle was involved in the crash, but they did not exchange information. Officers observed the vehicle continue southbound on 8th Avenue towards the intersection before officers caught up and escorted her back to the crash. Officers then spoke with Perez, who stated she did not have to stay at the location because she knew she did not have a valid Tennessee driver’s license or proof of insurance. Officers noticed the tag on the vehicle was upside down and observed that the VIN and registration did not match the vehicle she was driving. Perez then claimed she bought the vehicle at an auction, which officers confirmed. Perez had no passport or identification, so she could not be issued a state citation. Before being taken into custody, Perez had officers give her son a check to pay the rent. Officers noticed the check had the last name Ortiz, which her son confirmed as her last name. Perez refused to answer questions about why she gave a different last name. Perez was taken into custody and charged with criminal impersonation, no driver’s license, unregistered vehicle, leaving the scene of an incident, and insurance compliance.