Nashville man charged with aggravated assault after chainsaw threat at bus station

Metro Nashville Police arrested a man on Monday morning after he allegedly threatened a security guard with a chainsaw and a metal pole at the Greyhound bus station. Claude Bell, 51, was charged with aggravated assault following the incident on Rep. John Lewis Way S.

Officers responded to the transportation hub around 5:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a disturbance. Upon arrival, they found security personnel in a defensive position. Bell was sitting across the street with the chainsaw and a long metal pole beside him. An arrest affidavit details the sequence of events leading to his detention.

Security staff told police that Bell had been trespassing on the property throughout the night. They said he continued to cause problems after they instructed him to leave. According to the affidavit, Bell initially left the area but returned with the tools and began making threats against the guard.

Witnesses described Bell threatening to cut the guard up. A surveillance camera captured the confrontation, showing Bell holding the chainsaw and pole while taking a fighting stance. The footage corroborated the testimony of those present at the busy downtown hub.

Bell spoke to the officers about his intentions during the standoff. The affidavit records him stating that he wanted to fight the security guard like a man. He was taken into custody and booked into jail without incident.