What A 'Bluff': Shoplifting Suspect Caught After Lake Jump Claim

OLD HICKORY, TN -- An alleged shoplifter who reportedly took the Butch and Sundance route to escape pursing police was arrested Thursday and his cliff-jump turned out to be a bluff.

Metro Police confronted 37-year-old Travis Davenport outside of the Home Depot on Old Hickory Boulevard around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, suspecting him of shoplifting. Davenport, who also had an active warrant for his arrest, managed to escape, hitting a bystander's car and nearly hitting an officer.

A short time later, officers spotted Davenport turning onto Shute Lane and his car was found in the driveway of a home on Cherry Branch Lane. At the time police were unable to find Davenport, but nearby homeowners told investigators they saw the man jump from a bluff and into the lake.

The Nashville Fire Department deployed its boats in an effort to locate him while MNPD officers searched the area on foot, but he was not located before the search was called off at 10 p.m.

In fact, police now say, the jumping reports were false. Davenport was arrested Thursday after a citizen's tip and is charged with felony theft of property, felony evading, driving on a revoked license, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving and resisting arrest.

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