MNPD helicopter tracks car driving up to 150 mph through Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — News 2 has uncovered new information about a reckless driving suspect who reportedly fled from the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) last week, reaching speeds of 150 mph at times.

According to an arrest affidavit, investigators with the Vehicle Crimes Operations Unit saw a dark gray Dodge Charger Hellcat with a black racing stripe at a gas station in the 100 block of Lafayette Street shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21. Officers ran the license plate and it came back to a 2008 GMC that had not been registered since 2023.

Detectives attempted to pull over the Hellcat at another gas station in the 600 block of Fesslers Lane. Even though he initially stopped for the detectives, the driver — later identified as Myles Owens — took off, per the court documents.

The lengthy affidavit indicates officers did not chase the vehicle, but the MNPD helicopter tracked the Hellcat, which drove all over Nashville committing traffic offenses, including running red lights, driving into oncoming lanes, going 150 mph on the interstate, traveling in the center turn lane, passing vehicles on the shoulder, driving in bike lanes, almost hitting other cars, and forcing motorists to swerve off the road.

Helicopter footage shows the Hellcat accelerating through traffic and driving at 120 mph down the center lane on Old Hickory Boulevard.

The vehicle reportedly entered a parking garage in the 300 block of 11th Avenue South in the Gulch. The court document indicates Owens exited his car and got in another vehicle that drove him away from the parking garage.

According to the affidavit, officers found the Hellcat in the parking garage and searched it. Based on the VIN, the vehicle was registered to Owens, but police said it had not been registered since April 2023.

Inside the car, authorities said they found 1.4 pounds of marijuana in a clear bag.

Three days after the initial incident, MNPD got a tip that the 29-year-old was at a location on Lower Broadway. Police said Owens was driving a Tesla Cybertruck.

When they arrested Owens, law enforcement said he had close to $4,000 in cash on his person. In addition, during a search of the Cybertruck Owens was driving, officers found a loaded firearm and a Dodge key fob that reportedly activated the Hellcat police seized.

News 2 showed MNPD’s helicopter footage to Troy Meneese, a grandfather who found the crime troubling.

“It’s crazy! I got a Camaro, I ain’t doing it,” Meneese said. “People, they just don’t care. They get these hot rods and they don’t care. It’s like the outlaw days.”

Owens has been charged with nine counts of reckless driving, three counts of aggravated reckless driving, two counts of reckless endangerment, driving an unregistered vehicle, removal of a registration sticker, assault, evading arrest, and possession of a controlled substance.

Officials confirmed that Owens’ bond was $59,500 and he bonded out of the Metro jail the day after he was arrested. According to the Davidson County District Attorney’s office, Owens is due in court for all of his charges in November.

News 2 discovered that Owens was arrested for similar charges in 2023.

Based on Davidson County court records, Owens’ arrest history includes assault in 2014; resisting arrest in 2015; and reckless driving, theft of more than $10,000, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and a second offense for a revoked license in 2017.