Box truck stopped by Rutherford County deputies playing audio similar to camper in Christmas day bombing

Dec 29, 2020 at 11:31 am by Voice Wire


Federal and state authorities did not detect a device after checking a suspicious box truck traveling Sunday in Rutherford County, authorities said.

Rutherford County Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh said the case remains an active investigation.

Sheriff’s dispatchers received a call about the white box truck playing audio similar to the Nashville explosion while parked Sunday morning at Crossroads Market in Walter Hill in Rutherford County.

Rutherford County Sheriff’s deputies, with help from Wilson County Sheriff’s deputies, stopped the driver in Wilson County and detained him.

Tennessee Highway Patrol Lt. Bill Miller said the THP’s Special Operations Unit used a robot to check the vehicle.

“No device was detected,” Miller said.

Michael Knight, public information officer with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said certified explosives specialists and resources from ATF’s National Center for Explosives Training and Research worked with the Tennessee Highway Patrol at the scene.

Fitzhugh said he appreciated the response from Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, THP, ATF, FBI, Rutherford County Fire Rescue, Rutherford County Special Operations Response Team and Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services.

“It shows how everybody came together to the aid of each other,” Fitzhugh said.

Driver charged

Church members and convenience store customers heard a box truck driver play audio Sunday similar to the audio heard before the Nashville explosion Christmas Day, Rutherford County Sheriff’s sergeant said. 

Because of those actions, driver James Turgeon, 33, of Holly Grove Road near Murfreesboro was charged with two counts of felony filing a false report and one count of tampering with evidence Sunday night by lead Sheriff’s Detective Joseph Duncan.

Detective Sgt. Steve Craig said patrol deputies responded to a call of the driver playing the audio loudly outside the Crossroads Market in Walter Hill.

“During the course of the investigation, it was revealed Turgeon made a similar announcement at Kings Chapel Independent Missionary Baptist Church at Jefferson Pike and Dunaway Chapel Road while church was in service,” Craig said.

Sheriff’s deputies from Wilson and Rutherford County and the Tennessee Highway Patrol stopped Turgeon who was driving in Wilson County. He was detained for questioning. 

Turgeon was being booked into Rutherford Count Adult Detention Center.

Craig thanked Wilson County Sheriff’s deputies, Tennessee Highway Patrol, the ATF, Rutherford County Special Operations Response Team for its drone, Rutherford County Fire Rescue and Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services for the “outstanding help.”

Sections: Crime & Safety