NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) has reached a major milestone in its initiative to combat vehicle theft, with the arrest of its 1,000th suspect in just one year.
The special initiative, launched on February 1, 2023, aims to reduce vehicle theft and related crimes across the city. On December 18, 2024, detectives arrested Corey Harding Jr., 28, marking the 1,000th arrest under the program. Harding was apprehended after an intense pursuit that began when police located a stolen Dodge Ram 1500 TRX pickup truck in the area of Trinity Lane near Whites Creek Pike.
The truck had been reported as having fled from officers the previous week. Using surveillance, detectives identified Harding as the driver, and a police helicopter followed him as he sped through the city. Harding reportedly reached speeds of approximately 120 miles per hour, throwing a gun out of the truck’s window as he tried to evade arrest.
Harding’s pursuit ended when he pulled into a parking garage on Harding Pike, where he ran into a nearby women’s boutique, allegedly pretending to shop for a dress. He was taken into custody by police shortly after.
Authorities later recovered the gun Harding had thrown from the truck during the pursuit.
Harding now faces multiple charges, including vehicle theft, possession of a firearm as a felon, two counts of evading arrest, reckless driving, and two counts of altering title, registration, plate, or permit. He is being held on a $93,000 bond.
This arrest comes as part of the MNPD’s ongoing special initiative, which has made significant progress in combatting vehicle theft. In addition to the 1,000 arrests, the program has led to the recovery of 532 stolen vehicles and the seizure of 223 guns. Harding’s arrest is a testament to the effectiveness of this initiative in curbing crime and bringing offenders to justice.
Harding was previously convicted of felony evading arrest in 2023 after fleeing from officers in a stolen vehicle, a pursuit that ended with a crash and resulted in injuries to a passenger.
As the initiative continues, Nashville authorities remain committed to fighting vehicle theft and ensuring that those responsible for such crimes are held accountable.