Just days before Mayor Paul Young of Memphis touted declining crime in the city, a man allegedly stalked and attempted to kidnap him.
Trenton Abston, 25, was taken into custody on Wednesday, facing charges of attempted kidnapping, stalking, and aggravated criminal trespass involving Young, as reported by the Memphis Police Department (MPD).
According to an announcement by police on Facebook, surveillance from public and private security cameras captured Abston climbing the wall into the mayor’s neighborhood and approaching Young’s residence. He was taken into custody with a TASER, gloves, rope, and duct tape found in his car.
Trenton Abston, 25, was arrested on June 18, 2025, for stalking and attempting to kidnap Memphis Mayor Paul Young. (Shelby County Sheriff’s Office)
Thanks to a rapid response by MPD officers, as well as security camera footage, Abston was quickly apprehended, the department said.
“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 Tuesday’s edition of “First Take” on ESPN.
“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. They have talked about it. I know. They’ve told me. That’s all I’m saying.”
The comment sparked backlash from Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant and from Young.
“talkin bout the grizz more than the finals [laughing emoji] wit these [cap emoji] ahh sources,” Morant posted on X. “instead of focusing on the performances we seen from jdub/shai, tj/Siakam, how this series is going. We say sumn negative about a city/team on a national level.”
Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on April 3, 2025 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. (Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
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.”
Tangle of ramps for the I-40 interstate interchange around the Renasant Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee. (Ron Buskirk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
He also thanked Memphians and Morant for standing up for the city, and invited Smith to come to Memphis, where he is welcome “anytime.”
Young’s office and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately return comment requests.
MPD said the security footage was not available for release.
