Man who impersonated Orthodox Jew at Nashville Jewish community center previously hit and killed man in wheelchair

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The East Tennessee man accused of impersonating an Orthodox Jew at a Nashville Jewish community center this week has a previous conviction of leaving the scene of a crash that killed an elderly man in a wheelchair in Blount County in 2015.

Travis Garland, 31, was convicted in Maryville after he hit and killed a man who was in a wheelchair. He was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death as well as tampering with or fabricating evidence.

The Tennessee Department of Corrections confirmed to WSMV4 that Garland was given five years for the charges; which expired in September 2020.

The 31-year-old was arrested Wednesday in Maryville on a warrant for criminal trespassing, the Metro Nashville Police Department said. An additional warrant for Garland charging him with assault for putting a “security guard in fear as he tried to get him off the property” was issued Thursday.

MNPD said Garland went inside Nashville’s Gordon Jewish Community Center on Monday at about 7:45 p.m. wearing clothes to make him look like an Orthodox Jew along with a hat, fake curls and a fake beard. He was also reportedly holding his phone seemingly recording or streaming the incident.

Garland was stopped by the front desk worker upon entry. He then asked to speak with a rabbi, MNPD said.

When told there was no rabbi there, he then went past the front desk and attempted to enter another portion of the center, but he was stopped by two members.

MNPD said the security guard then made contact with Garland and asked him to leave, however, he kept demanding to speak with a rabbi.

The security guard reportedly told police that Garland was looking at his pistol, which “put him in fear that Garland was going to try and take it and use it against him or others.”

MNPD said Garland then retreated back to the parking lot. He was escorted to the front gate by the guard, who said Garland tried to get around him to another part of the parking lot where his car was, however, he was stopped by the guard.

After Garland had finally exited the property, the guard locked the gate and called the police.

MNPD said Garland later told officers that it was an “internet prank.” He was not armed and was allowed to leave after he was warned by police.

“Further investigation by Security Threat detectives, in consultation with staff of the Community Center and the District Attorney’s Office, led to the determination that Garland should be charged,” MNPD said.

Garland was returned to Nashville on Thursday night and booked into the Downtown Detention Center on a $250,000 bond.

MNPD detectives assigned to the Security Threat component of the Specialized Investigations Division are still looking into Garland’s background.