NASHVILLE, TENN. — Arrest warrants are being sought charging Robert P. Bush with three counts of felony aggravated assault against two Mt. Juliet police officers and an FBI agent for putting them in danger when he rammed their vehicles with a pickup truck at 6:30 a.m. as he evaded arrest outside HomeTowne Suites at 1210 Murfreesboro Pike.
The victims as named in the warrants, Mt. Juliet police officers Richard Lutz and Derek Thornhill, and FBI Agent Carla Rexing, were attempting to take Bush, 23, into custody on outstanding warrants from Wilson, Sumner and Davidson Counties, as well as question him concerning an unrelated investigation. Mt. Juliet police officer Frank DeRiggi was also present. As three law enforcement vehicles attempted to box in Bush’s pickup truck to prevent him from fleeing, he rammed two of the vehicles just as three of the law enforcement personnel had gotten out. Two of the Mt. Juliet officers opened fire on the pickup truck. Neither Bush nor his passenger was hit. Bush drove around the motel, let the passenger out (he is considered to be a witness and is not facing charges), and fled the motel property.
Just after 7 a.m., a Hermitage Precinct officer spotted the pickup truck and pursued it on Bell Road. A spike strip was deployed on Bell Road near Stewarts Ferry Pike damaging the truck’s tires. Bush continued driving on Stewarts Ferry Pike and turned right onto Lebanon Pike where, soon thereafter, he crashed. Bush was taken to General Hospital for minor injuries he sustained in the crash.
In addition to aggravated assault, Bush is being charged with felony evading arrest, driving on a suspended license, and vandalism for his actions today. He was also booked on outstanding warrants charging him with evading arrest in July, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license and failure to appear in court.
The MNPD’s centralized Homicide Unit is investigating the Mt. Juliet officers’ gunfire at Bush’s pickup truck. The results of that investigation will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office.
