Convicted felon Elijah Samuel Morris, 23, the burglary suspect who last January wore a blue dinosaur onesie while breaking into a vehicle on Bowling Avenue prior to burglarizing a Richland Avenue home, was taken into custody this morning on separate charges, including aggravated arson for a December 16 early morning house fire on Albion Street.
Officers responded Wednesday morning to reports of vehicle burglaries in progress at a Rice Road apartment complex. They saw Morris in a car with two flat tires. Officers activated their emergency equipment and Morris put the vehicle in reverse and drove off. Officers followed the car until Morris stopped in a parking lot and fled on foot. He was apprehended after officers saw him attempt to get into another vehicle. Morris was in possession of a firearm that had been reported stolen in Louisville.
Nashville Fire Department arson investigators identified Morris as the person who last December started a fire at 4311 Albion Street. The six persons inside the home were asleep and awakened by noise outside the front door. When they went to see what it was, they saw that the front porch was on fire. All safely exited out the back door.
Morris is currently charged with aggravated assault, aggravated arson, theft of property, theft of a firearm, evading arrest, a felony probation violation, possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony, and felon in possession of a gun. He is being held in lieu of $171,000 bond.
Morris was convicted of aggravated assault in September 2021 after physically attacking/strangling his girlfriend.
Charges are pending in the West Precinct break-ins on Bowling and Richland Avenues.
