An unusual drive-by crime has gotten people in one East Nashville neighborhood talking about the problem.
Jim Chaney was walking with his pregnant wife on North 16th Street just before 9 p.m. on October 5. A car drove by and someone inside the vehicle threw water balloons at the couple. Jim was hit in the chest, and his wife was hit in the face.
“She couldn't’t believe it, but she handled it well,” said Chaney. “She was calmer than I was. I was furious.”
Jim said the entire incident happened quickly, and he couldn't get a good look at the car. He did describe it as white or gray car, but did not see the license plate.
“Something like this is concerning,” said Chaney. “You can’t walk home at night without being harassed.”
Chaney said he often walks or rides his bike along North 16th Street, and it is normally a quiet street. He voiced his frustrations on two East Nashville Facebook groups, and others responded with similar stories. There was another incident reported the same night near Café Roze just up the street.
“It makes me think there was a group of kids driving around and hurling water balloons at people,” said Chaney.
Chaney said while it may have been a prank, his wife could have been seriously hurt. He hopes the incident will remind neighbors to stay alert while walking at night.
“If you hit someone with a water balloon who is 8 months pregnant, who knows what damage that could have caused,” said Chaney.
Chaney did file a report with Metro Police. He said an officer stopped by his house and told his wife they are planning to add extra patrols in the neighborhood.
