The story: A tense Wednesday afternoon in Arlington. Arlington Elementary School went on lockdown on Oct. 28 while Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies searched for a man wanted on multiple felony warrants. He was arrested that evening.
How it started: Around 12:20 p.m., deputies got a call about an armed disturbance at a basketball court on Airline Road near Dr. Logan Street, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO). They couldn’t reach the person who called. But they did identify a person of interest: Miguel Carranza, 21, who already had several outstanding warrants, FOX13 reported.
Why the school locked down: Deputies said Carranza was spotted running through the woods behind the Little Caesars on Airline Road toward Thunderbird Drive. That’s right by Arlington Elementary. So deputies called Arlington Community Schools, and the school locked down as a precaution.
The search: It lasted hours. Deputies spotted Carranza near Thunderbird Drive and Douglass Road, then again on Polk Street near Douglass Road. The Tennessee Highway Patrol, MPD’s aviation unit and several SCSO divisions helped out.
Meanwhile, at pickup: As of 3:52 p.m., Arlington Elementary still wasn’t dismissing students, according to the district. ACS canceled all extracurriculars and delayed dismissal at Arlington High too, FOX13 reported. Action News 5 reported that parents waited hours to get their kids.
How it ended: A tip from a neighbor. It pointed deputies to the Brockwell Road and Chester Street area. Around 5:45 p.m., they found Carranza in a wooded area near a church at Douglass and Chester streets. He was arrested without incident, according to SCSO. Mayor Mike Wissman also confirmed the arrest, per Action News 5.
The charges: Four counts of aggravated assault, plus evading and resisting official detention. SCSO says he was already wanted on warrants including two counts of aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, domestic assault involving bodily harm, and three petitions to revoke a suspended sentence. Reminder: charges are accusations, and he’s presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Still unknown: Whether he was armed when arrested, and more details about the original disturbance. Authorities haven’t said.
Bottom line: SCSO thanked the other agencies and the public for helping end the search. See something? Call SCSO at 901-379-7625.
Sources: FOX13 Memphis, Action News 5, WREG, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
Image: AI-generated illustration
