Image Credit: Paul Young / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Memphis Mayor Paul Young was almost kidnapped by an alleged stalker mere days before taking to social media to denounce claims that the city is not the “safest environment.”
On Tuesday last week, Mayor Young responded to comments made by sports analyst Stephen A. Smith who shared the sentiment that while Memphis is a great town for sports, NBA players don’t necessarily feel safe in the area.
“The people in Memphis, it’s a great sports town — great fans, great people — but there’s an element there where cats like Jimmy Butler and others don’t feel like it’s the safest environment,” Smith said on a recent edition of ESPN’s “First Take”
“I’m talking to the local authorities in Memphis. You’ve got to clean some of that stuff up because it’s dissuasive to NBA players,” Smith continued. “They have talked about it. I know. They’ve told me. That’s all I’m saying.”
Mayor Young responded to Smith’s comments with an official statement on his social media saying, “Stephen called us a great sports town – facts. Best fans in the game? True. People of Memphis? Unmatched.”
The Memphis Mayor went on to note declining crime in the city saying that Smith missed that key point.
“What he [Smith] is missing is that crime is down significantly in 2024 and 2025. We’re not just talking change, we’re delivering it,” said the Mayor. “Memphis is rising, and we’ve got the numbers and the heart to prove it.”
Then on Wednesday, the day after Mayor Young took to Memphis’ defense, 25-year-old Trenton Abston was arrested by the Memphis Police Department (MPD) and charged with attempted kidnapping, stalking, and aggravated criminal trespass against Mayor Young.
MPD posted to social media saying that public and private security camera footage showed Abston “carrying out suspicious activity in [the Mayor’s] neighborhood.”
Abston allegedly scaled a wall and went directly to the Mayor’s residence before being arrested by MPD.
Officers recovered gloves, rope, a taser and duct tape from his vehicle.
“Thanks to the rapid response of our officers and the use of camera technology throughout the neighborhood, we were able to quickly identify, locate, and arrest the suspect,” MPD said. “We understand the concerns raised by this incident and want to reassure the public that the Memphis Police Department remains fully committed to the safety of all residents, including our city’s elected officials. We take any potential threat seriously and will continue to act swiftly and thoroughly.”
According to Shelby County jail records, Abston remains in custody as of this article’s publication.
Bond has been set at $50,000 and Abston’s first court hearing is scheduled for 9AM on Monday, June 23rd.
MPD encourages their residents to “stay alert and report any suspicious behavior to MPD” as well as to add their private security cameras to the Connect Memphis Network at connect2memphis.org.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
