Poplar Commons turned into a sea of blue lights Sunday night as shoppers and workers watched a heavy police response shut down parts of the busy East Memphis shopping center. Officers blocked off sections of the parking lot with crime scene tape, brought in K-9 teams, and left traffic on Poplar Avenue crawling as drivers tried to navigate around the activity.
According to FOX13 Memphis, witnesses reported K-9 units working the scene while officers moved around the plaza. FOX13 crews on site filmed multiple marked patrol vehicles in the parking lot and noted that parts of the area were sealed off with tape. As of Sunday night, authorities had not released any details about what prompted the response, and the station stayed at the scene as officers continued their work.
Scene At A Busy East Memphis Strip
Police kept sections of Poplar Commons closed while they operated in the area, and drivers reported backups along Poplar Avenue near Perkins Extended as the situation unfolded. The shopping center sits along Poplar Avenue in East Memphis, as described on Fidelis Realty Partners, which outlines the plaza’s layout and tenant mix. Our reporter has requested information from the Memphis Police Department and will publish any official response once it is provided.
A Familiar Retail Hub
Poplar Commons is a well-traveled retail strip that pulls in steady foot traffic throughout the week, with a mix of national chains and local restaurants. Tenants include a Hopdoddy location, according to the restaurant’s site, and shoppers who were caught behind the tape told FOX13 they were working with officers while police secured the area…