NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) -- Four people were taken into custody and a suspect vehicle was recovered Wednesday as a result of a Crime Stoppers tip amid an investigation into four robberies that targeted women, according to Nashville authorities.
The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) offered the following descriptions of the robberies:
- A 67-year-old woman had just returned to her Tusculum Road home around 12:45 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15 and was unloading groceries from her vehicle when a woman approached her and asked her for money. However, when the victim turned away, the suspect pushed her and took her purse. The victim was not injured.
- A 55-year-old woman was exiting her vehicle at her apartment in the 5100 block of Greenleaf Drive when a man and woman ran up behind her and assaulted her with a metal object at approximately 7:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, severely beating her before taking her purse. The victim was brought to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with a severe laceration to her head.
- A 27-year-old woman was leaving her Packard Drive apartment to go to the store with her 8-year-old shortly before 6:45 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28 when a man, armed with a handgun, and a woman ran up to her and demanded her purse. The victim complied while her daughter ran to their apartment.
- A 62-year-old woman was mugged in the Family Dollar parking lot in the 2900 block of Nolensville Pike around 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1. She was injured when she fell to the ground during a struggle with the male suspect.
Acting on the Crime Stoppers tip, detectives searched the Metroplex Drive area and found the silver Ford Focus, which had rear end damage, according to officials. Several people were allegedly seen in and around the car, but it didn't move.
On Wednesday, Dec. 4, a man and woman who had been "interacting with the vehicle" -- identified as 35-year-old Michael D. Harris and 32-year-old Aubrey Whitworth -- left a hotel near the Ford Focus and got into a Ford Edge SUV, police said. In addition, the pair reportedly matched the suspect description in several of the robberies.
Investigators requested a police helicopter and patrol officers to coordinate a traffic stop. Authorities said Harris drove away, but he briefly stopped to let Whitworth out before continuing onto Interstate 24.
According to law enforcement, Whitworth fled on foot, but she was quickly apprehended at the intersection of Haywood Lane and Bakertown Road. She allegedly had a loaded handgun -- which had dried blood residue on it and a scratched off serial number -- and several credit cards that didn't belong to her.
Meanwhile, Harris drove into Rutherford County and stopped at a hotel on John R. Rice Boulevard, where, with help from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, he was taken into custody, officials said. In addition, authorities recovered a loaded shotgun from the SUV.
During an interview, the MNPD said Harris admitted he was involved in a Sept. 8 robbery outside Uno Billiards in the 600 block of Millwood Drive. In that case, the suspect reportedly brandished a shotgun.
According to officials, Harris is charged with aggravated robbery in relation to the Millwood Drive hold-up. Whitworth, who is accused of being with Harris at the time, is charged with accessory after the fact for her role.
Authorities said Harris is also charged with evading arrest and possession of a gun as a felon for the events from Wednesday. He is being held on a $160,000 bond.
In addition to the accessory charge for the Sept. 8 robbery, police said Whitworth -- who has prior felony convictions for vehicle theft and evading arrest -- is charged with evading arrest and felon in possession of a weapon. She is being held on a $28,000 bond.
Back at the original location of the Ford Focus, detectives continued to surveil another man and woman who were allegedly seen around the suspect car. Law enforcement said 27-year-old Tatiana Barton and 54-year-old Ronald Thomas Jr. got into another vehicle and drove off, but they were stopped and taken into custody.
According to the MNPD, Barton had an outstanding misdemeanor probation violation warrant, and Thomas was driving on a suspended license while in possession of three grams of cocaine and drug paraphernalia
Officials did not release the photos of the four individuals who were arrested due to pending lineups. No additional details have been released about this ongoing investigation.