ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Suspicious activity at an Ashland City apartment complex led to a scuffle between a man and law enforcement late Monday night, as well as the seizure of cocaine.
The Ashland City Police Department (ACPD) was performing directed patrols at Ashland Farms on Monday, March 10 because of vehicle break-ins in the area the night before.
When the first officer arrived, he found an SUV parked outside the complex’s electric gate. The vehicle was facing the highway and its lights were out.
The officer began to approach 34-year-old Bradley Herity, who said he was from Clarksville. Herity jumped out of his vehicle and greeted the officer.
Body camera footage revealed a civil discussion, with Herity saying he was there using the complex’s Wi-Fi and trying to figure out the best place to get air for his tires.
The officer asked if he had ID. Herity said he didn’t, adding that the car belongs to his wife. When the officer asked where Herity was coming from, the suspect said he was coming from Nashville, where he does electrical work.
The officer searched Herity and asked if he has drugs. Herity said he didn’t, but when the officer tried to look through the SUV glass to make sure the vehicle was clear and nobody else was inside, the 34-year-old got agitated and attempted to block the officer.
That is when things escalated.
Herity told the officer that he couldn’t search the vehicle, even saying that he’s a lawyer and knows his rights.
The officer told the suspect he was only planning to look through the glass, but because of Herity’s agitated state, he called for backup and instructed Herity to turn around as he tried to detain him. However, Herity said he would not comply.
Eventually, the two scuffled and ended up on the ground. Other officers arrived shortly afterward, with one yelling that he would use a Taser on Herity if he didn’t comply. The 34-year-old ended up in handcuffs.
“All I was trying to do was clear the car, make sure there was nobody else in it, make sure [there were] no weapons,” an officer said on the body cam footage.
“He said he didn’t know anybody there, doesn’t live there, was just on his way home from Nashville, trying to find some Wi-Fi at almost midnight with his lights off,” ACPD Sgt. Alexis Duncan summarized.
A Cheatham County K9 alerted on the vehicle, giving the ACPD reason to search the SUV.
Authorities found a drug pipe, as well as 7 grams of cocaine in a bag.
“Holy macaroni! Felonies on top of felonies!” a Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office deputy can be heard saying. “Stay where you’re at. Do not move.”
Law enforcement even found pieces of cocaine on the dashboard.
“He’s got crack up on the friggin’ dash!” one officer said with a laugh.
“Are you kidding me right now?” another officer replied.
“He had it covered up with that piece of paper,” the first officer pointed out.
During a different section of the video, you can hear another officer asking Herity who he knew at the apartment complex. Herity said he didn’t know anybody who lives there.
“So why are you here?” an officer asked.
“I was here to get Wi-Fi,” Herity responded.
“Wi-Fi?” the officer said.
“I use Wi-Fi in that building right there,” Herity explained. “I’ve been here before.”
“His story didn’t add up; he was shaking like a leaf, sweating,” Duncan told News 2.
In the video, Herity was adamant that he did nothing wrong.
“Our officers are great at picking up on stuff like that. We’re a smaller community, so our officers know what’s normal and what’s not normal,” Duncan said.
While first responders were taking Herity to the hospital, an officer asked him, “Did you swallow any of this crack before?”
“No, sir,” Herity replied.
Herity was charged with multiple offenses, including possession of cocaine, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has bonded out of jail and will be back in court next month.
Coincidentally, the day of Herity’s arrest was his 34th birthday.
