Sheriff

 

Accident caused by avoiding dog

Jesse L. Ramsey, 22, of 111 Shadow Way, in Del Rio, told Cocke County Deputy Sheriff Tony Bailey that on Wednesday, April 29, around 1:30 p.m., he was traveling north on Highway 73 just past Oniel Road when a dog ran out into the road. Ramsey said he swerved to miss the dog, lost control of his 2007 Dodge, and struck a guardrail. The impact caused severe damage to his vehicle and also damaged the guardrail.

 

Two-vehicle crash on Jimtown Road

Jennifer L. Simms, 36, of 148 Valley Walkway, in Cosby, told Cocke County Deputy Sheriff David Crowder that on Friday, May 1, she was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt south on Jimtown Road in the 400 block when a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Carrie E. Nichols, 60, of 475 Jimtown Road slid, into her lane of travel and hit her head-on. Nichols told Crowder she was traveling north on Jimtown Road and about to turn left into her driveway when she saw Simms in her Chevrolet in the opposite lane. Nichols said she slammed on her brakes and jerked the steering wheel, causing her vehicle to slide into the opposite lane and into the path of the Chevrolet and the vehicles collided head-on.

 

Hit-and-run alleged

Lelibeth F. Haggins, 34, of 321 Bronze Way, in Newport, told Cocke County Deputy Sheriff Tony Bailey that on Monday, April 27, around 6:30 p.m., she was stopped on Early Road waiting to turn right onto Lower Board Road. Haggins said a vehicle, possibly a blue Ford, struck her driver's side front end, causing minor damage. The Ford fled the scene.

 

Colt gun allegedly stolen

Stacy Swatzell, 34, of Industrial Road, in Newport, told Sgt. David Crum of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department that on Friday, May 1, between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., someone entered his house, allegedly with a key, and took Swatzell's 22-caliber Colt New Frontier with a black police holster valued at $1,200.

 

Theft alleged

Martha A. Hurst, of Industrial Road, told Sgt. David Crum of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department that on Friday, May 1, a friend had failed to return her gun after having it for three weeks, allegedly to hunt. The gun was a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun valued at $280. She named two individuals possibly responsible for the theft.

 

Three guns reportedly taken from home

Teresa A. Jarnagin, 41, of Highway 411 in Newport, told Lt. Richard Caldwell of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department that on Monday, April 27, three guns were taken from her home. There was no sign of forced entry. Taken were a 16-gauge shotgun valued at $175, a 12-gauge shotgun valued at $150, and one "old" rifle valued at $300. A few clothing items were also reported stolen.

 

Burglary and breaking and entering alleged

Martin Whitlock, 53, of Better Road, told the Cocke County Sheriff's Department that on Wednesday, April 29, he returned home from work and found the back door kicked in and three guns stolen: a Winchester 30/30 worth $500, a Remington 12-gauge shotgun valued at $500, and a Marlin 22-caliber rifle valued at $150. Damage to the door was estimated at $150.

 

Lawn equipment reported stolen

Charles Shell, 58, of Johnson Street, told Sgt. David Crum of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department that on Wednesday, April 29, someone took various lawn equipment items from behind his shed. Taken was a weed eater valued at $75, a 22-inch black lawnmower, a Troybilt push mower estimated at $240, and a 22-inch Murray push mower valued at $160.

 

Breaking and entering alleged

Carroll Pack, 49, of Salem Road, in Parrottsville, told Cocke County Deputy Sheriff Joseph Owings that on Wednesday, April 29, between 7:10 a.m. and about 6:10 p.m., someone kicked in his back door and several items were stolen. "The house was really ransacked," wrote Owings. Taken was jewelry, a camera, camcorder, ammunition, a DVD player, PlayStation games and several guns. Carroll requested that an officer fingerprint his home. Items were valued at over $15,000.

 

Jewelry reported stolen

Terry Lee Wilson, 53, of Rankin Hill Road, in Newport, told Cocke County Deputy Sheriff David Crowder that on Friday, May 1, his home was burglarized and jewelry estimated at over $2,000 was taken. There were small pry marks on the front door and shoeprints on the living room floor.

 

Various electronic equipment items and food stamp card allegedly stolen

Clyde Ray Ricker, 58, of Blue Ridge Way, in Newport, told Cocke County Deputy Sheriff David Crowder that on Friday, May 1, someone took several items from his vehicle when he left it on Monday, April 27, at Overlook Way with a friend. Taken was a camcorder valued at $2,500, a DVD recorder and player valued at $200, 15 DVDs worth $30, six wire connectors valued at $400, and a food stamp card valued at $50.

 

Prowler alleged

Kassandra L. Price, 19, of Highway 321, told Cocke County Deputy Sheriff Joseph Owings that on Thursday, April 30, about 2 a.m., an individual pulled in front of her house, waited, then got out and came onto the porch and turned the door knob to a door, knocked on the door, walked around on the porch for three to four minutes, then got in his vehicle and left going south on Highway 321.

 

Items stolen from truck bed

Elizabeth Whisler, 29, of Knob Creek Road, told Cocke County Deputy Sheriff Tony Bailey that on Thursday, April 30, between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., someone took the following items out of a truck bed on her property: an air compressor valued at $80, air tank ($25), wood stove ($325), two chain ($150), a chain saw ($125) and a Craftsman tool set ($100).

 

Stolen checkbook

Roger E. Butler, 60, of Carson Springs Road, in Newport, told Sgt. David Crum of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department on Friday, May 1, someone must have stolen his checkbook in March. He discovered recently that several checks from that checkbook were being processed at his bank. He passed along information about who they were made out to and the amounts to Crum.

 

 

 

 Police

 

Two-car accident on North Street

Natasha S. Askew, of 831 Highway 160, in Newport, was traveling south on North Street near Smith Street on Wednesday, April 29, around 6 p.m. in a 2003 Chrysler when she stopped behind traffic. Daniel C. Raines, 18, of 542 Blueberry Way, in Newport, was also headed south on North Street behind Askew in a 1993 Nissan Altima, when he stated to Sgt. Donna Hopkins of the Newport Police Department that his foot slipped off the brake. Raines' Nissan then struck the rear of the Chrysler, according to Hopkins' report.

 

Two-vehicle accident on Rankin Road

Mark D. Maddox, 57, of 563 Jessica Way, in Newport, was driving a 1994 Ford Explorer SUV on Wednesday, April 29, about 6 p.m. headed south on Rankin Road when Billy Nichols, 71, of 964 Rocky Springs Road, in Bean Station, pulled his vehicle, a 2000 Toyota Takoma pickup truck, from Seehorn Drive onto Rankin Road. Nichols' pickup truck struck Maddox's SUV in the left rear quarter panel, according to a report by Patrolman Justin Vinson.

 

Ronald MacArthur, 80, of Long Avenue, Newport, told Patrolman Donald Coakley that on Friday, April 24, around 12:30 p.m. he left home. When he returned Monday, April 27, he found an air compressor and $170 in medication stolen, and the front door to his camper busted out. The air compressor was valued at $650, and the broken front door lock at $45.

 

Low blood sugar led to blackout while driving

Danny W. Brown, 50, of 495 Terrace Way Apt. 6, in Newport, told the Newport Police Department that on Wednesday, April 29, about 10:15 a.m., he was driving on Long Avenue to visit a friend when his blood sugar dropped to extremely low. That caused him to blackout and strike an unknown object with his vehicle. Police investigated Long Avenue, but only found damage to Brown's vehicle.

 

Electronic equipment at Walmart allegedly hidden to shoplift

Nicole A. Henry, 26, of 424 Harper Circle, in Newport, was observed on Wednesday, April 29, around 3:20 p.m. by a Walmart loss prevention officer who allegedly observed Henry concealing a camera and two computer virus programs totaling $179. Henry was issued a citation and ordered to appear in court, according to Patrolman Travis Gorrell.

 

Vehicle allegedly strikes deer

Anna L. Watts, 70, of 556 Carson Springs Road, in Newport, told Patrolman Heather Lawson that this morning (Thursday, April 30) at around 4:50 a.m. her vehicle struck a deer on Highway West 25/70 in front of a bowling alley while she was headed east on her way to work. Watts said the deer jumped in front of Watts' car, causing moderate damage to the vehicle's hood, bumper and front right fender, the report said.

 

Vehicle damaged in Food City west parking lot

Leisha Mixon, of 142 Summer Spring Way, in Newport, told Patrolman Justin Vinson that on Thursday, April 30, while she was inside Food City west to shop, someone backed into her 1993 Infiniti G20. It caused damage to the trunk and rear bumper.

 

Former inmate's Xanax is gone

Amy Beck, 32, of Ivy Valley Way, in Cosby, told Patrolman Donna Hopkins that on Thursday, April 30, someone took her prescription bottle of Xanax that was in her purse after she was arrested and jailed previously. When arrested, she allegedly gave it to an individual who said she in turn would give the Xanax to the jail nurse. When Beck was released from jail, her medication was not given back. She got her purse, but no wallet. When she contacted the Cocke County jail on April 30, her wallet was returned, but the medication was not located.

 

Cordless drill allegedly stolen

Michael Paulin, 78, on Woodlawn Avenue, in Newport, told Patrolman Donna Hopkins on Thursday, April 30, that his DeWalt cordless drill was taken from a toolbox in the back of his pickup truck. Paulin also said it appeared someone attempted to enter his home by the front door.

 

Dogs are doggone

Stacey Mandell, 22, and her mom had kept two dogs on Melton Road in a pen behind the house. Her mother went to feed the dogs the afternoon of Thursday, April 30. The dogs were gone, but the door to the pen was still closed. Neighbors said the dogs "had been a problem" and that they had contacted animal control several times in regard to the dogs. Neighbors told the Newport Police Department that they did not know where the dogs were. Mandell contacted animal control, but the dogs had not been picked up.

 

Dispute over deceased mother's property

Two women who are sisters started a verbal argument about their deceased mother's property on Thursday, April 30, at 5 p.m. on Jay Bird Road, according to a report by Patrolman Justin Vinson. The verbal argument escalated to the sisters fighting and hitting each other. One sister showed paperwork to Vinson to prove she had power of attorney. The sisters are aged 60 and 66 years old.

 

Harassment alleged

A woman on Pikeview Avenue told Patrolman Donna Hopkins on Thursday, April 30, that she had been receiving harassing phone calls from her ex-husband and his girlfriend. Hopkins heard one message played for him from an individual saying if she didn't leave her ex-husband alone, then her house would be burned down. The woman who received the call said she started receiving harassing calls after she started the process of taking her ex-husband back to court.

 

Stolen car battery

A woman on Driskill Circle on Thursday, April 30, told Patrolman Donald Coakley that on Thursday, April 30, about 12:50 she visited her neighbor and returned to discover the hood to her vehicle was unlatched and the car battery missing. It was valued at $80.