Reporting by JR Robinson for Shelby County District Attorney General

A 19-year-old Memphis man is facing a steep $500,000 bond after being linked to a string of car thefts stretching from Nashville to Memphis, as Shelby County prosecutors argue he poses a continued threat to public safety.

Bryun Watkins Identified as Key Suspect

Bryun Watkins, 19, is charged with theft of property over $60,000 and vandalism after Memphis police say he stole a RAM TRX truck on May 9. While the incident itself was nonviolent, Assistant District Attorney Cody Tolbert emphasized Watkins’ extensive juvenile record in court. Under a new Tennessee law, juvenile records can now be considered in bond hearings for adult defendants, a factor that played a significant role in the judge’s decision to set bond at half a million dollars.

“Given the defendant’s history and the ongoing threat to the community, the State requested a high bond, and the court agreed,” Tolbert told the court during the hearing.

Multi-City Crime Connections

Watkins’ alleged criminal activity is not confined to Memphis. He is also facing a pending charge in Nashville related to a separate car theft involving four other suspects. According to Nashville police reports, Watkins was among five individuals arrested after a high-speed chase involving a stolen Nissan Altima. The group was tracked by detectives and ultimately apprehended at an apartment complex, where officers recovered multiple vehicle programmers, stolen key fobs, and firearms—one of which had been illegally modified to be fully automatic.

Watkins and another adult suspect, Aryona Ward, 22, were both charged with vehicle theft, theft of a firearm, evading arrest, and possession of equipment used to reprogram car key fobs. The Nashville case also involved juveniles and other adult suspects, with authorities describing the group as part of a rash of recent vehicle thefts and related crimes.

Ongoing Investigation

Law enforcement officials in both Memphis and Nashville say their investigations remain active, with further charges possible as they continue to examine links between the cases and additional suspects. Watkins remains in custody in Shelby County as he awaits further court proceedings.

Legal Context and Community Impact

The unusually high bond reflects not only the value of the stolen property but also the State’s growing concern over organized car theft rings operating across city lines. The new Tennessee law allowing juvenile records to be considered in adult bond hearings is intended to address repeat offenders who, prosecutors argue, pose a heightened risk to public safety.

As the investigation continues, both Memphis and Nashville authorities encourage anyone with information related to these thefts to come forward.