Juan Jose Vasquez, also known as Craig Jose Miller, is facing more than a dozen charges after admitting to firing shots into the air and then assaulting officers during his arrest.
Several witnesses saw the 26-year-old shooting in different directions close to the intersection of Commerce Street and Rep. John Lewis Way North just before 6 in the morning on Monday, as stated in the arrest complaint.
Miller was spotted sitting at the intersection’s corner with a friend when Metro Nashville Police Department officers arrived, according to WSMV. Miller first denied any reports of gunshots, but in the affidavit, he eventually acknowledged that he had recently divorced his wife and had fired eight bullets “as a celebration for regaining my freedom.”
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After retrieving the eight bullet shells, the officers talked with witnesses who testified that they were in direct line of fire from Miller when he started shooting, exposing them to the danger of getting hurt.
Miller’s backpack, which was still at the scene, was found to contain components for building bombs, thus MNPD officers temporarily closed the junction during the arrest. A perimeter was set up, the document claims, and the backpack was examined and found to be secure.
Items taken from the bag during the search, including the gun he allegedly used to fire the shots on Commerce Street, have been speculated to be connected to recent auto burglaries at a nearby parking garage, according to the police findings.
As stated by the officers, the suspect even had a parking garage pass from the location where the auto thefts occurred around his neck, worn like a necklace.
A THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) pen was discovered in the suspect’s pocket, according to the officers, who additionally noted that the man could not take care of himself and had slurred speech.
Miller was very aggressive toward his arresting officers, according to the police. As the officers tried to restrain him, he kicked one of them in the stomach and kicked the patrol car doors from the inside, the police said. Miller also threatened to kill them all, according to the cops.
He is now facing numerous charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, property theft, drug possession, and assaulting authorities, after being arrested later that morning.
