MT. JULIET, TN - What started as a routine traffic stop for failing to halt at a stop sign quickly escalated into a significant arrest this week. Officers pulled over a vehicle on Pleasant Grove Road and discovered that the passenger, a 33-year-old man from Smyrna, was wanted out of Rutherford County on charges that include assault and three counts of false imprisonment.

This arrest is the latest example of the Mt. Juliet Police Department’s aggressive stance against crime. Over the past year, police have reported a 22 percent increase in arrests compared to 2024, with officers apprehending 574 wanted individuals—a 67 percent jump since 2022. Notably, about 90 percent of those arrested were not Mt. Juliet residents, underscoring the department’s effectiveness in stopping crime from spilling into that community.

Technology has played a major role in the department’s success. License plate readers are now a standard enforcement tool, and drones are being prepared to serve as first responders, providing officers with real-time intelligence before arriving on scene. These innovations have helped reduce crime, cut down on calls for service, and save taxpayer dollars.

Mt. Juliet’s proactive approach has earned recognition statewide. The city was recently ranked the fourth safest in Tennessee by SafeWise, and the safest among cities with populations over 18,500. Routine stops like this week’s arrest continue to show how even minor infractions can lead to major breakthroughs, reinforcing Mt. Juliet’s growing reputation as one of Tennessee’s most effective law enforcement agencies.