Three Teens Arrested, Six Guns Seized, Two Stolen Vehicles and 19 Key Fobs Recovered

Six guns seized (at least one of them stolen), two high-end stolen vehicles recovered, three teenagers arrested.

Those are the statistical highlights of a Wednesday evening continuing investigation that involved the aerial monitoring of one of the stolen vehicles, an Infiniti G37 sedan, as it traveled at 130 mph on the Nashville interstate system and 100 mph on Bell Road.

This case started at 3 p.m. Wednesday, when the owner of a $70,000 Mercedes SUV reported that her vehicle was stolen as she walked her dogs in Centennial Park (the keys were left inside). Vehicle Crimes detectives used information from Mercedes to electronically locate the vehicle. An MNPD helicopter was then dispatched to monitor its movements. It quickly became apparent that the Mercedes was traveling in tandem with the Infiniti sedan, which detectives later determined was stolen from Normandy Circle in West Nashville on December 23 (the license plate originally on the Infiniti had been replaced by the thieves). The helicopter followed the vehicles to an apartment complex in the 2500 block of Murfreesboro Pike, where the Mercedes was parked. The occupants then got into the Infiniti.

A Hermitage Precinct officer attempted to stop the Infiniti. The driver failed to comply. No pursuit was initiated as the helicopter continued to monitor the Infiniti. The car traveled around the city at high speeds. Ultimately, a spike strip was successfully deployed on Nolensville Pike at the Nashville Zoo. The car continued on deflating tires to an apartment complex in the 4600 block of Nolensville Pike where the five occupants bailed and ran. Officers apprehended three of them, 19-year-old Thierry Bwenge, a 15-year-old, and a 16-year-old.

Six guns were seized. One of them was being carried by the 15-year-old. Two others were discarded in bushes as the teens fled. The additional three guns were found in a bag that had also been discarded.

In addition to the guns, detectives recovered 19 key fobs, a key fob programmer, cash and other items.

Bwenge is charged with auto theft, gun theft, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of minors, and evading arrest. A judicial commissioner set his bond at $17,000.

The 15 and 16-year-olds are charged at Juvenile Court with unlawful gun possession, joyriding, evading arrest, and possession of burglary tools. The 16-year-old was arrested in a stolen car in February.

This investigation involves officers and detectives from a number MNPD components, including Aviation, Vehicle Crimes, Canine, Robbery, Violent Crimes, South Patrol and Hermitage Patrol.