The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) reported last week that a man was arrested for the second time in 10 days on charges involving a stolen vehicle. Separate judges established bonds of less than $100,000 after both instances.
MNPD on Saturday reported the arrest of 31-year-old Kenneth Strickland by its Violent Crimes Division after he allegedly fled from a traffic stop while driving a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Authorities said Strickland was recorded by Tennessee Highway Patrol Aviation as reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour during the police chase as he traveled in a vehicle reported stolen from Music City Power and Performance in January.
Firearms were reportedly seen being tossed from the vehicle during the chase. During their attempt to arrest Strickland, MNPD reported the stolen Jeep was “disabled by detectives and abandoned,” while its driver and passengers “were quickly apprehended after a brief foot chase.”
He was arrested and charged with vehicle theft, felony and misdemeanor resisting arrest, and given bonds totaling $76,000. At press time, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office listed him as incarcerated.
The police department also revealed Strickland was currently released from jail on a $46,500 bond in another auto theft case that resulted from an arrest that occurred when police accused him of arriving at the scene of a suicide while driving a stolen Infiniti.
Strickland was arrested alongside two passengers, who were both additionally arrested and charged with crimes related to the alleged attempt to evade police.
MNPD reported the rear passenger was Jeffery Beltran, who is similarly held on a $96,000 bond after he was alleged by a witness to have tossed a loaded firearm from the stolen Jeep. He was charged with vehicle theft, evading arrest, evidence tampering, and being a felon in possession of a weapon, as the department said Beltran was previously convicted of felony offenses in Florida.
MNPD identified the second passenger as Gabriel Murillo, who was also charged with vehicle theft and evading arrest. The department stated that Murillo is “being held in lieu of a $33,000 bond.”
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
