Man accused of rape, kidnapping caught in stolen vehicle in South Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A Madison man is facing a litany of charges, including rape and kidnapping, after he was arrested in a stolen vehicle on Thanksgiving night.

The Metro Nashville Police Department announced the arrest of 34-year-old Jessie Lamont Wardlow in South Nashville on Thursday night for allegedly being behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle following an assault on a woman.

MNPD said Wardlow was wanted on four charges related to the aggravated rape of a 25-year-old woman on Nov. 22 on Gallatin Pike South before his arrest Thursday. The victim of the Nov. 22 rape said Wardlow pulled her away from her friends, took her phone, forced her to take off her clothes and sexually assaulted her before she could escape to a nearby gas station.

Following the attack, the victim was punched in the face and strangled with his own jacket as he tried to escape, police said. He managed to hide behind a gas station on Gallatin Pike South. Wardlow allegedly entered the store a short time later and an employee ordered him to leave.

The victim was taken to TriStar Skyline Medical Center and treated.

On Thursday night, police said another victim reported she was in the passenger seat of a gold Chevrolet Malibu with Wardlow when he attempted to rape her. According to police, he punched Wardlow in the face as he struggled to stop him from taking off his clothes.

The victim managed to drive away after stopping at a convenience store on Haywood Lane, Wardlow. A cell phone belonging to the owner of the Malibu was stolen and the victim coordinated returning the car to its owner. The two women, the victim of the attempted rape and the owner of the stolen Malibu, returned to the store together and called 911.

Wardlow was taken into custody and taken to Nashville General Hospital for a mandatory blood draw.

Wardlow was arrested in the early morning hours Friday and charged with extraordinary aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, rape without consent and assault. He was also charged with attempted rape, assault, motor vehicle theft and three counts of burglary. He is currently in jail on $296,000 bail.

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