Two Arrested for Illegally Dumping Tires in Memphis

Police say the pair dumped about 150 tires on East Levi Road and were allegedly paid by four local tire shops to dispose of inventory.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Property Crime

Two Arrested for Illegally Dumping Tires in Memphis

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Memphis police arrested Joshua Gholson, 26, and Danielle McGhee, 25, on Oct. 22 for illegally dumping tires along East Levi Road. Both suspects confessed, and investigators uncovered two additional dumping grounds containing thousands of tires.

Why it matters

The case highlights how illegal tire disposal can leave large volumes of waste across neighborhoods, with investigators examining whether businesses that generated the tires were involved. Prosecutors face questions about accountability for the businesses that hired the disposal.

Joshua Gholson faces five counts of felony aggravated criminal littering, and Danielle McGhee faces three counts each of felony aggravated criminal littering and felony vandalism ($2,500-$10,000). Detectives are still working to identify a third person and determine whether the tire shops were involved.

The players

Memphis Police Department

The municipal police agency that investigated the dumping, identified the suspects and made the arrests.

The details

Surveillance footage captured three people using a U-Haul box truck to dump roughly 150 tires in the 300 block of East Levi Road on Sept. 28 and Oct. 1. Officers located the truck near South Bellevue Boulevard and Lamar Avenue and arrested the driver and passenger on Oct. 22.

Sept. 28, 2026: First tire dumping on East Levi Road.
Oct. 1, 2026: Second tire dumping on East Levi Road.
Oct. 22, 2026: Officers spotted the truck and arrested two suspects.

Legal Context

Charging the suspects with felony aggravated criminal littering under Tennessee law reflects how the state treats organized dumping as a serious offense rather than minor littering. The counts against the pair, along with the vandalism charge, show prosecutors applying multiple statutes to a single operation.

Residents near East Levi Road and the other dumping sites may see tire debris cleared as investigators work the case. Anyone who notices illegal tire dumping in their area can report it to local police.

The takeaway

Illegal tire dumping often involves paid disposal arrangements, so businesses that hire haulers should verify where their waste ends up. Keeping records of disposal contracts can help protect a company if its tires are later found dumped illegally.