Car burglar Luna lassoed

Edward Luna

The Gang Unit’s 10 p.m. Saturday stop of a speeding pickup truck on Briley Parkway near Centennial Boulevard led to the apprehension of accused serial car burglar and fugitive Edward L. Luna, who was a passenger in the vehicle. 
          
Luna, 22, was being sought on warrants charging him with breaking into three automobiles, one of them a police car, and is also a suspect in the burglaries of other law enforcement vehicles in the Nashville area early last week.  Luna, who was not carrying any identification last night, was asked his name at the scene of the traffic stop.  His reply to the officer:  “You know me, I’m all over the news.  I’m the one who broke into all the police cars and stole the guns.”  Later, after arriving at the West Precinct, Luna refused to be interviewed by detectives.
          
Found under tires in the back of the pickup truck was a green bag containing two semi-automatic pistols, more than 100 rounds of ammunition and magazines for the guns.  One of the guns was confirmed as being stolen from the SUV of a private citizen in South Nashville on July 21st, resulting in Luna also being charged with felony theft and unlawful gun possession.  Luna is spending his Sunday in the Metro Jail in lieu of $91,000 bond.  He remains under investigation.
          
Also in the pickup truck was 17-year-old Austin Dodd, an escapee from state custody who was believed by detectives to be accompanying Luna.  Dodd was taken to juvenile detention and booked on the escape charge.  Dodd denied involvement in the vehicle burglaries.

Suspects sought in fatal shooting

(From The Tennessean):  Nashville Police detectives are pursuing leads as they work to identify the persons responsible for this morning’s fatal shooting of Dennis Prutianov at his 4004 Moss Road home in Antioch.

Gunshots apparently targeting Prutianov (pictured here), 26, were fired into the residence just after 1:30 a.m. Saturday. At least two suspects were seen by a witness. They were reported to have arrived on Moss Road in a dark blue or black Toyota Camry or similar type vehicle.

A drug motive has not been ruled out. Prutianov was convicted of two felony cocaine counts and one felony marijuana charge in August 2010. He received two three-year probated sentences for the cocaine offenses and a one-year probated sentence for the marijuana conviction.

Anyone with information on the persons responsible for the murder of Prutianov is urged to contact lead Detective Chad High at 862-7681 or Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME.

Citizens can also send an electronic tip to Crime Stoppers by texting the word “CASH” along with their message to 274637 (CRIMES) or by logging onto www.nashvillecrimestoppers.com. Those who contact Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward.

Police provide safer streets

(From The Tennessean):   Police said last weekend’s Operation Safer Streets gang enforcement initiative, which took place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, resulted in 68 arrests involving 66 misdemeanor charges, two felony charges and 17 outstanding warrants.

Forty pills, 15.6 grams of marijuana and one gun were seized, according to a Nashville police news release.

At least three times a week, officers and supervisors representing each of the seven precincts and the Specialized Investigations Division partner together to implement strategies to combat gang crime and activities in various areas of Nashville, the release said.

Friday’s enforcement consisted of four SID detectives, eight supervisors, 22 patrol officers and two canine officers, according to the release. Areas targeted were the 1100 block of Nolensville Pike, Lutie Street, McCann Street at 3rd Avenue South, Illinois Avenue, Polk Avenue, Thompson Lane, Fairfield Avenue, Murfreesboro Pike, and Nashboro Boulevard.

Saturday’s enforcement consisted of one SID detective, five supervisors, 19 patrol officers and five canine officers, the release said. Areas targeted were Gallatin Pike, Old Hickory Boulevard, Dickerson Pike, Greenwood Avenue, and Porter Road.

Sunday’s enforcement consisted of eight SID detectives, three supervisors and three patrol officers the release said. Areas targeted were Glenrose Avenue, Haywood Lane, McGavock Pike, Myatt Drive, Harding Place at Linbar Drive, and Spence Road.

So far this year, Operation Safer Streets has resulted in 2,312 arrests on 146 felony charges and 2,273 misdemeanor charges, 12 gun seizures, the service of 700 outstanding warrants, 297 field interviews of persons believed to have gang knowledge and 10,414 vehicle stops in areas with a gang presence, police said.

Shooting in north Nashville

 A 32-year-old man was shot and killed in his car outside a north Nashville market last Tuesday night.

Police said Jason Earl Thomas was shot in his car outside Harper's Market on Jefferson Street around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Jason Earl Thomas

He had been talking with a group of people across the street before going to his car. Police said the gunman walked from behind the market and opened fire through the passenger-side window.

"At this time what we're getting from witnesses is the victim was sitting in his car, and the suspect approached him, fired multiple times on the car and then fled," said Metro Police Captain Preston Brandimore.

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots after Thomas left the Brew Sports Bar, where he had been watching a basketball game.

He was taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center, where he died.

Police said the gunman fled on foot. The description of the suspect is limited: a black man wearing a white t-shirt.

Detectives believe there were several witnesses to the murder who left the scene before police arrived. 

It was unlikely that robbery was a motive because drugs and cash were recovered at the scene, according to police.

Police were interviewing witnesses to try to piece together what happened. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME.

Let's break it up, gang

   Metro police on Tuesday filed a civil lawsuit to wrest control of an area in South Nashville from the clutches of the Kurdish Pride gang by banning members from congregating in a 1.47-mile “safety zone.”

   The department is targeting 24 of what they call the “worst of the worst” members of the gang, hoping a judge will ban them from publicly gathering in a zone that encompasses part of an area known as Little Kurdistan and includes Paragon Mills and Providence Park. The injunction lawsuit is the fruit of a three-year effort to combat gangs for detectives to build their case and attorneys to try and bullet-proof it from legal challenges. The injunction is the first of its kind ever filed in Tennessee, but a tactic used successfully for years in other states like California.

   “Our police department will not sit idly by when a street gang threatens the peace of our community,” said Metro Police Chief Steve Anderson at a news conference held in Paragon Mills, the site detectives say hosted Kurdish Pride gang meetings. “We want to give this park back to the citizens.”

   Police say Kurdish Pride members were involved in at least one murder, multiple beatings and shootings, drug dealing, illegal weapons and vandalism. Incidents include the 2006 attempted murder of a Metro Parks Police officer and multiple graffiti messages threatening a Metro Police Gang Unit detective.

A novel idea: Fighting crime where it happens

The Metro Police Department says their new precinct in Madison is allowing officers in north Nashville to spend more time in problem areas, and that has cut down on crime.

Haynes Manor has been known as one of Nashville's high-crime neighborhoods, but resident Job Bond said things have been different lately.

"It's been quiet since the police have been around here. It's been quiet," he said.

Police say it is not by chance crime is down in several north-side communities.

"I think the message that has been sent to Haynes Manor is, 'Hey, every time we look around the police is all in here, so we need to go someplace else, or we need to quit,'" said Commander Anthony Carter.

In January, with the addition of the Madison Precinct, officers' coverage for the North Precinct shrank by about 70 square miles. Police said that has allowed officers to better focus on problem areas and arrest more criminals.

As a result, Carter said serious crimes in areas such as Bordeaux are down 9 percent and in Joelton, 25 percent. That includes offenses like homicide, robbery and aggravated assault.

"The Madison Precinct opening up has allowed us to be more visible and spend more time in the neighborhoods. And spending more time in the neighborhoods allows us to be more visible," Carter said.

But the news isn't great across the board. Carter said overall crime in north Nashville is up by about 2 percent. That's in part, he said, because of significant burglary issues in the Whites Creek and Scottsboro areas.

Mad at God?

   Surveillance cameras last week captured a man throwing a brick through a window and breaking into North Nashville's 15th Avenue Baptist Church.

   "The fact that someone would vandalize something so sacred is deeply upsetting and disturbing to me," said Pastor William Buchanan.

   Other burglaries have occurred at churches on Smith Springs Road and Old Murfreesboro Pike.

   Maybe the burglars think their victims will be more forgiving?

   At one church, choir members got ready in a room to come out and sing. The room was left unlocked from an outside entrance and a thief waltzed in and stole all the personal belongings of the choir members.

   Pastors and police are joining forces and fighting back with Metro's fourth annual Church Safety Seminar. Officers won't just be addressing break-ins; they'll be tackling everything from embezzlement to identity theft.

   Father Joseph Breen of St. Edwards Church has been to the seminar before. "We found out lighting is one of the most important elements of security," Breen said.

   This year, Breen is hosting the event and said he hopes to send a message to criminals that they will have to bear the burden of their actions. "I don't think they can live with that and find peace," Breen said.

   But for those who are able to overcome their conscience, they’ll now have to deal with clergy armed with self-defense tactics.

   "I think they would be wise to keep that it in mind, that it is a house of God. It's something different and something special that I would hope they would not consider doing it again,” Breen said. (Or they’ll suffer the wrath of God?)

   Metro police said anyone is welcome to join the seminar. It starts at 9 a.m. Thursday at the St. Edwards Church on Thompson Lane.

Just Busting

   A concerted two-day effort to verify the addresses given by 262 of Davidson County’s registered sex offenders revealed 49 possible violations of the sex offender registry law. Sex Crimes detectives will be conducting investigative follow-up and will swear out arrest warrants as necessary.

   On May 16 and 17, teams of officers and detectives from the Sex Crimes Unit, the East & Madison Precincts, the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force and representatives of the Tennessee Board of Probation & Parole fanned out and knocked on the doors of addresses provided by sex offenders during their required registration meetings with law enforcement.

   Similar checks will be conducted in the coming months.

   Undercover detectives assigned to the department’s seven precincts charged 146 persons last week, with mostly drug and prostitution offenses, as the result of investigations in various Nashville neighborhoods.
   South Precinct detectives charged 24 persons as the result of investigations on Margo Lane, Antioch Pike, Hamilton Church Road, Murfreesboro Pike, and Hart Street.  Seized were 92 grams of marijuana, 2.5 grams of cocaine, one gram of heroin and 107 pills.
   Hermitage Precinct detectives charged 29 persons as the result of investigations on Fairfield Avenue, Murfreesboro Pike, Lafayette Street, Matterhorn Drive, Creekwood Drive, Fowler Street, Anderson Road, and Lincoya Drive.  Seized were 9.6 grams of cocaine, 8.47 ounces of marijuana, 67 pills, three weapons, two vehicles and $10,980 cash.
   West Precinct detectives charged 21 persons as the result of investigations on Charlotte Pike, Morrow Road, 8th Avenue South and White Bridge Road.  Seized were five grams of cocaine, 20 grams of marijuana, 28 Soma pills, 16 Xanax pills, 57 Dilaudid pills, three grams of psychedelic mushrooms, one gun and one vehicle.
   North Precinct detectives charged 15 persons as the result of investigations on Russell Street, Dickerson Pike at Trinity Lane, Leawood Drive, the 500 block of Harding Place, and Wren Road.  Seized were 5.2 grams of heroin, 29.3 grams of cocaine, 72 pills, two vehicles and $1,239 cash.
   Madison Precinct detectives charged 20 persons as the result of investigations on Gallatin Pike, Old Hickory Boulevard, Dickerson Pike, and Tucker Road. Seized were two pounds of marijuana, six grams of cocaine, 20 Lortab pills and ten OxyContin pills.
   East Precinct detectives charged 18 persons as the result of investigations on South 5th Street, Main Street, Dickerson Pike, Trinity Lane, Porter Road, Litton Avenue, and Pennock Avenue.  Seized were .7 grams of cocaine, 24 Lortab pills, 10.7 grams of marijuana and $167 cash.
Central Precinct detectives charged 19 persons as the result of investigations on Spring Street and Jefferson Street.  Seized were over two ounces of cocaine, two grams of marijuana, four vehicles and $317 cash.
   Persons suspecting drug activity in their neighborhoods are urged to call the police department’s 244-DOPE hotline. Callers to the hotline can remain anonymous. 

Take my car, please

   A review of stolen vehicle reports in Nashville from Sunday, May 6, through Saturday, May 12, shows that 24 percent of the automobiles taken (six of 25) were easy targets because the keys were left inside or made available to thieves.

   The police department’s continuing PARK SMART campaign strongly urges citizens to lock their automobile doors, secure any valuables and REMOVE THE KEYS.

   Officers also urge citizens to SHOP SMART by not leaving purses or other valuables unattended in shopping carts, even for a very short time. An unattended purse is an easy target for a thief.

   For info  about these and other programs of the Nashville Police Department, visit http://www.police.nashville.gov/index.asp.