NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — New state laws and a renewed effort to tackle retail crime in Davidson County are showing some early success.
Since its inception in September 2024, the Metro Nashville Police Department’s new Organized Retail Crime section has reportedly accounted for 477 cases cleared by arrest. That includes a woman who has a 17-year history of going to jail, often for shoplifting and retail thefts.
2 organized retail theft suspects arrested in Spring Hill
Davidson County officials said 34-year-old Brittany Ezell was arrested by MNPD’s ORC unit on Wednesday, April 2. She has been charged with the following offenses:
- Seven counts of misdemeanor theft of property ($1,000 or less)
- Seven counts of misdemeanor theft of merchandise ($1,000 or less)
- Four counts of felony theft of merchandise (more than $1,000 but less than $2,500)
- Four counts of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor
- Four counts of misdemeanor probation violation
- Three counts of felony theft of merchandise (at least $2,500 but less than $10,000)
- Two counts of felony organized retail crime (at least $2,500 but less than $10,000)
- One count of felony organized retail crime (at least $10,000 but less than $60,000)
- One count of misdemeanor vandalism ($1,000 or less)
According to multiple arrest affidavits, Ezell and her associates would roam through stores and then, within a minute or two, walk out with thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise that would later be sold online.
For example, Ezell and three other individuals were seen going into Bath & Body Works in the Nashville West Shopping Center on Oct. 8, 2024. Per the affidavit, the suspects split up and quickly loaded their baskets with 75 candles, one fragrance pug, 108 fragrance sprays, and 19 scent boosters before walking out 90 seconds later, taking a total of $3,410,75 worth of merchandise, along with seven baskets each valued at $20…