From a man claiming ISIS affiliation to a former schools employee brandishing a gun in the U.S. Capitol, Franklin had its fair share of unusual incidents in 2016.
While rankings systems routinely laud Franklin for its safety, it does experience crime.
Here are the top stories from 2016.
Franklin suspect claiming ISIS ties found to have mental issues
A Fairview man suspected of assaulting a woman at a Franklin fitness center summer 2016 had a similar incident happen more than a decade ago.
Johnny Roscoe, 34, was found guilty of assault in 2003 and was sentenced to six months of supervised probation. Since then no other incidents occurred until this summer on June 17 when police answered a call at a Cool Springs fitness center after staff called to report a man creating a disturbance inside.
The officer’s affidavit indicates that, “Mr. Roscoe became irate, raising his voice and cursing. Mr. Roscoe stepped toward [the victim] telling her that he was from the Middle East and an ISIS Muslim. Mr. Roscoe raised his right hand forming what appeared to be a pistol and made two gunshot sounds while looking directly at [the victim].”
According to the press release, responding officers became concerned that the subject was experiencing a mental health emergency, and requested medical assistance. Roscoe was transported by ambulance, under police escort, to the hospital for a comprehensive mental health evaluation, and subsequently was admitted.
A Franklin Police Department report from 2002 showed that Roscoe received medical treatment at Williamson Medical Center, where he assaulted an officer.
According to the report, hospital officials asked for police presence because of Roscoe’s mental, agitated state. While the officers stood beside him for more than an hour and a half, the report reads they noticed Roscoe go through an array of emotions. At one point Roscoe stood up, pointed and shouted obscenities at the officers. He tried to leave and officers told him to remain in the wheelchair where he sat.
Roscoe later appeared before the Williamson County court in late 2016.
Capitol Hill shooter once worked for Williamson County Schools
Back in the early spring, Superintendent Mike Looney confirmed that a man who was shot after allegedly pulling a gun in the U.S. Capitol’s Visitors Center previously worked for the school system.
The Associated Press confirmed that the man who was shot and wounded by police after brandishing a handgun was Larry Dawson, 66, of Antioch. He was later charged with assault with a deadly weapon and assault on a police officer while armed.
According to WCS Communications Director Carol Birdsong, Dawson started working for the school system in 1980. He worked on and off in the district up until his termination in the spring of 2001. He worked as a bus driver, but started out as a part-time cafeteria worker.
“He was terminated basically for conduct that wasn’t becoming of a Williamson County employee,” Birdsong said. “He had written some inappropriate letters to a student.”
Franklin High School students charged with felony after threat in texting app
The contents of what students texted in a group message application warranted an investigation and felony charges in April.
Williamson County School officials said authorities charged and detained Franklin High School students after what administrators discovered in a texting app.
Communications Director Carol Birdsong said she wasn’t sure how the principal received the notification of the contents within the GroupMe texting application, but some parents or students sometimes report these incidents.
“A parent may see something concerning to them and they may just call the school,” she said. “A student may see something, and they go talk to an adult at that school, which is something we encourage.”
Birdsong said that when incidents like these arise, administrators treat them on a case by case basis. Depending on the degree of severity, administrators investigate the issue or turn it over to law enforcement with the first stop being the Student Resource Officers within the schools.
Franklin Police arrest, cites three in prostitution
Franklin Police arrested two women from California suspected of prostitution at a Cool Springs hotel in late December.
According to a Franklin Police Department media release, authorities acted on a lead Thursday afternoon. Narcotics and vice detectives obtained search warrants for two rooms at the TownePlace Suites Hotel on South Springs Drive in Franklin.
During the investigation, detectives determined that a stolen credit card had been used to rent the rooms being used. Officers seized several cell phones, gift cards, more than in $1,000 cash and other evidence associated with incident.
Police arrested Royale Nixon and Destiny Wincentsen – both from California. The two were charged with prostitution, identity theft, and fraudulent use of a credit card.
Nixon and Wincentsen each remain jailed on $40,000 bonds. Detectives issued a misdemeanor citation to John Brennan, charging him with patronizing prostitution.
Brennan was found with one of the women during the execution of the search warrants.
All three suspects appeared in court before the year’s end.
Former Indy principal faces jail time after second DUI
Former Independence High principal Todd Campbell was sentenced in July in a Davidson County Court for driving under the influence, second offense.
Judge Dianne Turner read Campbell his guilty plea, explaining he would go to jail for 45 days with 25 of those spent in a cell and the remaining time spent in an inpatient treatment center. Campbell also had to go through an alcohol safety course and lose his license for two years. Judge Turner said it would become possible for Campbell to potentially obtain a restrictive license. He had monthly probation upon his release.
His official last day with Williamson County Schools was June 28.
Emily West covers Franklin, education, and the state legislature for the Franklin Home Page. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter via @emwest22.
