Nashville Police Charge Justin Ward in Cayce Homes Dog Theft Case Involving Alleged Gun Threats

Arrest follows January confrontation in which a woman reported her bulldog was taken at gunpoint

Metro Nashville Police have charged a 27-year-old man with aggravated robbery in a case stemming from an alleged dog theft in the Cayce Homes neighborhood earlier this month. The defendant, Justin Ward, was booked on Friday, January 16, 2026, and remained in custody as of Monday, January 19, on a $50,000 bond. A court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, January 20.

The investigation began after officers responded shortly after noon on Tuesday, January 6, to a report on South 5th Street. A woman told police she was outside with her dog when a black Nissan Altima pulled up and three men got out. She reported that one of the men displayed a handgun, threatened her, and claimed the dog belonged to him before taking the animal and leaving in the vehicle with the other two men.

Police documentation indicates the woman’s mother later provided adoption paperwork for the dog from Metro Animal Care and Control. Investigators treated the paperwork as proof of ownership as the case moved forward.

Witness accounts played a central role in the early stages of the inquiry. The victim and witnesses described the men as “local rappers,” and the victim reported seeing an online video posted by an associate of the group that appeared to show her bulldog. Detectives used the collected descriptions and follow-up investigative steps to identify a suspect and continue the search for the others.

Police say the victim reported the dog was taken after an alleged handgun threat during a brief confrontation on South 5th Street.

Ward was identified as the driver in the incident and was selected in a photo lineup, according to the arrest documentation. Authorities have not announced arrests for the other two alleged participants, who are considered at large.

What is known, and what remains unresolved

• The reported incident occurred Tuesday, January 6, 2026, in the Cayce Homes area.
• Police allege a handgun was shown during the encounter and that the dog was taken in a black Nissan Altima.
• Justin Ward, 27, was booked Friday, January 16, 2026, on an aggravated robbery charge and is being held on $50,000 bond.
• Two additional suspects described in the case have not been publicly identified and have not been arrested.

The aggravated robbery charge reflects the seriousness of allegations involving property taken under threat with a deadly weapon. The case is expected to proceed through Davidson County courts beginning with Ward’s scheduled appearance on January 20. Investigators have not released further details about the dog’s current location or whether the animal has been recovered.