NASHVILLE (MNPD) – East Precinct detectives Wednesday received a tip that Justin F. Carter, 36, who is wanted on outstanding warrants, including for escape from police custody, was at a Tammany Drive residence.
When they arrived at the location, detectives saw a man get into a Nissan Maxima and drive off. When they attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver fled at a high rate of speed. A police helicopter began to monitor the car as detectives followed from a distance. After one of the vehicle’s tires blew out, he continued to drive until he stopped on the Briley Parkway Bridge, got out of the car, and jumped into the Cumberland River. He was seen in the water before he went under and did not resurface. Recovery efforts by Nashville Fire Department, MNPD, and Office of Emergency Management personnel have thus far been unsuccessful.
There was no identification for Carter inside the Maxima so positive identification of who jumped into the river has not been made.
Last Thursday, Carter was riding a stolen motorcycle when he was involved in a collision with a car on Cahal Avenue at Porter Road. He was seriously injured and transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center. Warrants charging him with theft of a vehicle, felony cocaine possession, reckless driving, and driving on a revoked license were to be served upon his release from the hospital. On Saturday at 10:15 p.m., Carter requested to take a shower. When nurses went to check on him at 10:40 p.m., he was not in the bathroom. A review of surveillance video showed Carter walking out of the hospital.
