October 9, 2023 – Officers assigned to the Entertainment District Unit downtown arrested a total of ten persons, almost all of them from out of state, on Friday and Saturday nights for selling balloons containing nitrus oxide (laughing gas), which was being inhaled by purchasers. Nitrus oxide is commonly used during dental and medical procedures as a sedative.
The arrests took place in areas close to Bridgestone Arena, where the band Phish was in concert. In addition to the arrests, approximately 20 cylindrical canisters and three vehicles were seized as evidence.
Those charged with the felony offense of sale or delivery of inhaling fumes are:
Marquael Clingner, 23, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Matthew Landan, 51, of Louisville, Kentucky
Mervin Brown, 56, of Columbia, South Carolina
Raasheem Queen, 22, of Queens, New York
Rhonda Cain, 35, of Columbia, South Carolina
Marcellous Gibson, 57, of Locust Grove, Georgia
Ronald Knott, 21, of Runnemede, New Jersey
William K. Wright, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Roy Hastings, 31, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Justin Wiseman, 35, of Ashland City, Tennessee
An additional five persons were charged with misdemeanors for possessing or consuming nitrus oxide balloons.
Source: Metro Nashville Police Department
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