WCSO, Metro Nashville Recapture Suspected Wilson Co. Felon who Fled Nashville Hospital

 Early this morning, Wilson County Sheriff’s Office detectives and Metro Nashville Police Narcotics Detectives recaptured a suspected felon wanted on numerous charges in Wilson County who apparently walked out of a Nashville hospital during a shift change Monday.

WCSO arrested 36-year-old old Homero Quintanilla Navarro of 5001 Saundersville Road just before 1 a.m. today in the Antioch area of Nashville. WCSO detectives aided by Metro Narcotics detectives located Navarro while checking various locations the subject was believed to have frequented. He was taken into custody without incident at a motel in Antioch near Interstate 24. He was booked into Wilson County Correctional Department just after midnight, where he is currently being held without bond pending a hearing on his charges.

“We are greatly relieved to have this suspect back in our custody,” said WCSO Chief Deputy Mike Owens. “We appreciate the Metro Narcotics detectives who assisted us with the capture of this suspect. We also appreciate the help of the media for getting the word out and his photograph. Our Number One priority has been, as always, to keep the citizens, especially those deeply affected by this case, safe.”

Navarro was wanted in connection with a series of events including a serious car crash, home invasion and burglary in neighborhoods near his home and assaulting WCSO deputies Sunday. Upon his arrest, he was immediately taken to Vanderbilt University Hospital Emergency Room under guard of WCSO until Monday when it was determined he was to be admitted for his injuries.

WCSO Chief Owens said Wilson County officers followed protocol and faxed all the outstanding warrants for Navarro to Vanderbilt Hospital and Police, verified Vanderbilt received the information and left him under care of Vanderbilt staff as per hospital protocol.

Sometime between the time he left the emergency room and was admitted into the hospital Monday morning, Vanderbilt Police officer assigned to the hospital who had just come on duty at the hospital (who was apparently not notified of his outstanding warrants) saw an unidentified female enter the hospital and leave with Navarro. Vanderbilt authorities contacted Metro Nashville Police and began canvassing the area for the suspect. They notified WCSO approximately two hours after our deputy left failing to find Navarro.

For the past three days, WCSO, Metro Nashville and Immigration authorities have been searching for Navarro, contacting associates he has in the Nashville and Wilson County areas. He is believed to have fled the state, possibly toward the Southwestern part of the country. Law enforcement has been notified in numerous states along with U.S. Border Patrol. He has been entered nationwide NCIC for outstanding warrants. Wilson County Sheriff’s Office will extradite upon capture.

Navarro’s run-in with the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office began Sunday upon receiving a call where Navarro is believed to have forced his way into a home in the area of Tyne Boulevard and Saundersville Road. During the reported incident, he forced his way into another home at Teton Dr. in Wilson Co. When Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the home, he jumped out of the window. He fought with deputies, injuring at least two during his arrest.

WCSO also determined Navarro had previously crashed a Yellow H2 Hummer he was driving into a sign at a convenience store in a sharp curve at Tyne and Saundersville Road. Witnesses said the driver was travelling at a high rate of speed and struck the sign with such force, he uprooted a sign in the store parking lot from its concrete stabilizers.

After a search of Navarro’s vehicle was conducted, it was determined that alcohol and illegal narcotics were likely a determining factor in the crash and subsequent assault on the responding deputies. Deputies also recovered a stolen weapon and a large amount of cash and narcotics.