A tip from a citizen to Crime Stoppers has led to the arrest of four individuals and the recovery of a vehicle suspected to be involved in a series of robberies targeting women in Nashville. The vehicle, a silver Ford Focus with rear-end damage, is believed to have been used in four separate incidents.
The first incident occurred on December 1, when a 62-year-old woman was mugged in the parking lot of Family Dollar on Nolensville Pike. On November 28, a 27-year-old woman was robbed at gunpoint in front of her Packard Drive apartment. Another incident on November 26 involved a 55-year-old woman who was severely beaten before being robbed at her Greenleaf Drive apartment. The earliest incident took place on November 15, where a 67-year-old woman was robbed while unloading groceries at her home on Tusculum Road.
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Following the tip, detectives located the Ford Focus in the Metroplex Drive area and observed multiple individuals around the vehicle. On Wednesday, Michael D. Harris, 35, and Aubrey Whitworth, 32, were seen exiting a nearby hotel and entering a Ford Edge SUV, which matched descriptions from some of the robberies.
A coordinated traffic stop was attempted, but Harris fled the scene. Whitworth, who was later apprehended on foot, was found with a loaded firearm and multiple stolen credit cards. Harris was later captured in Rutherford County with a loaded shotgun in the vehicle. He admitted to a previous robbery on September 8 and faces multiple charges, including aggravated robbery and possession of a firearm. Whitworth is charged as an accessory and also faces charges for possession of a weapon and evading arrest.
Additional suspects, Tatiana Barton, 27, and Ronald Thomas Jr., 54, were arrested after being seen near the Ford Focus. Barton had an outstanding warrant, while Thomas was found with cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are withholding photos of the suspects for further identification procedures.
Source: Read Original Release
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