NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Police took more than a dozen people into custody following a raid at a home in Hermitage.
The raid was conducted Thursday morning at 365 Monaco Drive. Metro police tweeted “enough is enough,” adding that there had been at least one homicide and multiple drug issues at the home.
BREAKING: After dealing with a homicide and multiple drug issues at 365 Monaco Drive in Hermitage, enough is enough. Officers are now raiding the home & have found approx 20 people inside. The place will be boarded up and padlocked as a public nuisance later today. pic.twitter.com/JK43QQgePc
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) February 20, 2020
Police said 26 people were inside the home at the time of the raid. Eleven of them had warrants out for their arrest.
Officers arrested the homeowner, 51-year-old Paul F. Newsome. Police said he was "warned" multiple times to clean up the place. He will be charged federally on an outstanding unlawful gun possession charge.
Officers described “dangerous” living conditions inside the residence. They found an infant in what was described as the “worst room.” The baby was placed into the care of a family member and is said to be in good health.
The house was boarded up and padlocked as a public nuisance. Police say they’ve received more than 100 calls about the home since 2013.
Neighbors on Monaco Drive describe the house as an eyesore and a dangerous place. There are frequently junk cars and numerous campers/trailers in the back yard.
Police say neighbors reported debris and trash often visible in both the front and back yards. In fact, the back yard has been so full of junk that the property stands in stark contrast to the rest of the surrounding residential area, causing property values and public safety to suffer.
The officers & undercover detectives who built the case for today's padlocking order at 365 Monaco Drive knew their hard work had made a difference when they heard this resident describe the impact this one home was having on area families. pic.twitter.com/Dy5SNsIUGC
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) February 20, 2020
Police officials seized four grams of heroin, ten pills, 20 grams of marijuana, one gram of meth, drug paraphernalia, digital scales, a live military smoke grenade, and seven guns from the house.
Metro police spokesperson Don Aaron said this is only the fourth time that a private residence has been padlocked. An undercover police officer said this is the worst home he’s seen in his 10-year career.
As officers were entering 365 Monaco Dr this morning, 1 of the 26 adults inside opened a window and tossed this gun outside. At least 11 of the 26 persons have outstanding warrants. Conditions inside the home are horrendous. An infant inside has been placed with a relative. pic.twitter.com/nDdc8oEmVq
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) February 20, 2020
Officers have responded to 109 calls for service at the home between January 2013, and January 2020 for issues including homicide, drug offenses, domestic disturbances, disorderly persons, and attempts to serve outstanding warrants, among many others.
On July 17, 2019, 22-year-old Matthew Stewart was killed in the home during a drug deal in which he Christian Mendl were trading drugs for a gun. The murder remains under active investigation.
In 2019, the police executed three search warrants - two for narcotics and one related to the Stewart murder. As a result, Newsome was arrested on multiple drug and gun charges. Officers also seized two small plastic bags of meth, a 12-gauge shotgun, a digital scale, and several pipes used to smoke meth. They even found a live monkey that was being kept without the proper licenses or permits (the monkey was not in the house when officers raided it this morning). Officials warned Newsome that the activity had to stop.
Another search warrant was executed on July 17. Setectives recovered several items of drug paraphernalia including needles, digital scales, spoons used to cook heroin, 46 pills and a small amount of marijuana. Newsome was again warned that if the drug crimes and other illegal conduct didn’t stop, the MNPD would be forced to consider a padlock order.
Officers continued to watch the home for the next month. They made more drug seizures during traffic stops of people coming from the home and after another search of the home on August 28, twelve people were either arrested or issued misdemeanor citations for varying offenses.
Newsome was again warned that the activity had to stop. That's when police say he grew agitated and told a MNPD sergeant to do what he had to do.
