Just days before Memphis Mayor Paul Young touted the city’s declining crime rate, a man allegedly stalked and attempted to kidnap him.
Trenton Abston, 25, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with attempted kidnapping, stalking, and aggravated criminal trespassing against Young, according to the Memphis Police Department.
Police said in a Facebook post that public and private security camera footage showed Abston climbing the wall to the mayor’s neighborhood and walking to Young’s house. He was arrested with a TASER, gloves, rope, and duct tape in his car.
Abston was apprehended quickly thanks to MPD officers’ prompt response and security camera footage, according to the department.
“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,” said the department’s spokesperson. “We take any potential threat seriously and will continue to act swiftly and thoroughly.”
According to Shelby County, Tennessee jail records, Abston remains in custody as of Friday, and his bond has not yet been determined.
It is unclear if he has an attorney, and the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office could not be reached for comment.
The suspect was apprehended just one day after Young took to X to defend the city following comments made by sports analyst Stephen A. Smith, who stated that NBA players do not want to play in Memphis due to safety concerns.
“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 during Tuesday’s episode of “First Take” on the television network ESPN.
“I’m speaking with Memphis’ local authorities. You need to clean up some of that stuff because it’s deterrent to NBA players. They’ve talked about it. I understand. They have told me. That is all I am saying.
The comment drew criticism from Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant and Young.
“Talking about the Grizz more than the finals [laughing emoji] with these [cap emoji] ahh sources,” Morant wrote on X. “Instead of focusing on the performances we’ve seen from jdub/shai, tj/Siakam, and how this series is going. We say something negative about a city/team at the national level.”
Young also weighed in on X.
“Stephen called us a great sports town – facts,” he said. “Best fans in sports? True. People of Memphis? Unmatched.”
“But what he is missing is that crime is down significantly in 2024 and 2025. We’re not just talking change, we’re delivering it. Memphis is rising and we’ve got the numbers and the heart to prove it.”
He also thanked Memphians and Morant for standing up for the city and invited Smith to visit Memphis “anytime.”
Young’s office and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to comment requests.
MPD stated that the security footage was not available for release.
