Police make arrests in early morning armed robbery

Metro police have arrested five suspects they say were responsible for holding up a man early Tuesday morning outside his south Nashville apartment and attempting to rob a second man.

The victim told police four men robbed him after he got out of his car at 12:30 a.m. at his home on Hickory Highlands Drive. The suspects allegedly pistol-whipped the man, took his wallet, car keys and cell phone, and fled in an orange Pontiac Grand Am.

Before the Hickory Highlands attack, police said the men attempted to rob a man outside his Cain Ridge Drive home. In the first incident, the potential victim saw the men approaching and ran inside his apartment. Police said the suspect tried unsuccessfully to break down the door. The almost-victim told police the men fled in an orange Grand Am.

Officers arrested the suspects at 2 a.m. in the 700 block of Dupont Avenue. Police said a pistol and the victim’s cell phone, car keys and cash were located inside the Grand Am.

Police said Serzio Raines, 20, of Joseph Ave., admitted to planning the robberies.

The suspects include Nathan Bellefant, 20, of Tanglewood Court; Eric Kincherlow, 18, of Eden St.; Raines; Jessica Turner, 24, of Lafayette, Tenn. (owner of suspect vehicle); and Deanzelio Washington, 19, of Linbar Drive.

All five suspects are charged with one count of aggravated robbery and one count of attempted aggravated robbery. They are each being held in lieu of $160,000 bond.

The suspects' photos are being withheld pending lineups in similar cases.