Sheriff's

Pursuit and accident
Lewis J. Kovach was arrested after leading deputy sheriffs on a high-speed pursuit on Highway 321 on Saturday, May 30, around 12:44 a.m. Cocke County Deputy Sheriff Steve Johnson allegedly attempted to stop a 1996 Dodge Stratus on Highway 321 for weaving in and out of lanes and for possibly driving drunk, according to a report by Deputy C. J. Ball. Kovach allegedly refused to stop and then drove in a  reckless manner at high speeds up to 90 m.p.h. on Highway 321, almost striking "numerous" vehicles on the road. Kovach allegedly came to the end of Highway 321 and Wilton Springs Road, wrecked in a field, and fled on foot. A passenger in the vehicle with Kovach received injuries to his face and was transported to Baptist Hospital of Cocke County for treatment. About one hour later, Cocke County Deputy Sheriff Derrick Webb allegedly located Kovach at a residence on Highway 321. He has allegedly received minor injuries in the wreck, so he was transported to the emergency room of a hospital where he was treated and released. Kovach allegedly admitted to driving the vehicle and admitted to officers that both occupants were drinking alcohol. Kovach was arrested later for felony fleeing to evade by motor vehicle, duty to give information or render aid, reckless endangerment, underage driving while impaired, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Gun reported stolen
Terry Cameron, 51, of Allen Chapel Road in Parrottsville, told Sgt. David Crum of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department that sometime between May 1 and June 1, someone stole his 9-mm. Smith & Wesson gun. The gun is made of stainless steel, has a laser sight, and polymer grips. The gun, which also had a black nylon holster, was valued at $338.49.

Items allegedly stolen from home
Peggy J. Willborn, 52, of Angle Way in Hartford, said on Tuesday, May 26, about 6 p.m., several electronic items and $25 in cash was taken from her bedroom, according to Cocke County Deputy Derrick Webb.

Vandalism of vehicles at Westgate Motors
C. A. Chrisman, 79, of Westgate Motors at 990 Thinwood Drive, told Cocke County Deputy Brian Holt that sometime at night, between Friday, May 29, and Saturday, May 30 at 8 a.m., someone, or some people, broke several windows on four vehicles: a 2000 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck, 2004 Nissan Sentra, a 2003 Chevrolet Blazer, and a 1995 Pontiac Sunfire. They were valued at a total of $2,150.

Aggravated assault alleged
Donavan R. Hall, 35, of 2032 Highway North Highway 321, in Newport, said that on Friday, May 29, he was traveling on Clear Creek Road when a man in maroon Oldsmobile allegedly ran him off the road, and pulled out a handgun, according to a report by Sgt. Eric Rinehart of the Cocke County Deputy Sheriff's Department.

Gas drive-off
Kenneth Harwell, of the I-40 truck stop, told Deputy Alton Cureton of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department that on Saturday, May 30, the driver of a gray Nissan pickup truck drove off without paying for $11.82 in gasoline.

Assault on banks of river alleged
James A. McGaha, 21, of Alder Road, in Bybee, told Cocke County Deputy Sheriff Alton Cureton that on Saturday, May 30, around 1:15 a.m., he and three other people were on the bank of the Chucky River and Phillips Hollow Road, drinking beer. Suddenly, a white male walked up behind McGaha and struck him on the head and back with a piece of wood. McGaha was taken to Baptist Hospital of Cocke County, treated, and released.

Assault alleged on Evans Valley Way
Robert Webber, Jr., 26, of 1242 Evans Valley Way, told Cocke County Deputy Steve Johnson that on Saturday, May 30, someone came into his home and struck his several times with his fists. A woman reportedly witnessed the assault and made the assailant leave the home.

Repo man in vehicle allegedly shot at
Jeremy Collins, 22, of 2549 County Line Road, in Mooresburg, told Cocke County Deputy C. J. Ball that on Sunday, May 31, he went to an address on Peony Way to repossess a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup truck. Collins said the truck allegedly wasn't there, but someone in a field nearby shot numerous rounds of ammunition at his truck, striking the driver's side mirror and the passenger side front end. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at about $400.

Active Order of Protection alleged violated
Rhonda Ford, 40, told Sgt. Ricky Holt of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department that an acquaintance she has an active order of protection on pulled into her driveway on Big Way, in Newport, behind her on Sunday, May 31, around 1:50 a.m. and ignored repeated requests to leave.

Alleged cock-fighting
A person who wished to remain anonymous said cock-fighting, which is illegal, was going on at a Chicken Hollow Road address. A man at the address said his dog had attacked one of his roosters and killed it, according to a report by Cocke County Deputy Sheriff C. J. Ball on Saturday, May 30. He wrote that "officers will get with the district attorney's office to see if charges can be pressed against the suspect for cock-fighting. Photos were taken at the same time that officers arrived to investigate the matter further.

Domestic dispute
A woman, 43, of Moore Hollow Road, said an acquaintance started arguing with her around 11 p.m. on Friday, May 29, according to a report by Lt. Rick Laws of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department. McIntyre said the person issued her death threats before she left to live with a friend. McIntyre was advised to go to General Sessions Court and get an order of protection and a writ of possession to get her belongings.


Police

Lawrence J. Verbos Sr., 47, of Sevierville, was driving a 1999 Mercury SGS on Monday, June 1, around 5:30 a.m., north on Mims Avenue. Verbos allegedly failed to yield to the flashing red light, and collided with a 2001 Chevrolet driven by Charlie L. Williams, 894 Blue Mill Road, Del Rio, that was traveling west on Broadway. The collision of the two vehicles led the Williams vehicle to swerve and hit a 2007 Dodge pickup truck driven by Charles E. Rhoton, 58, of Dandridge, stopped for the caution light at the accident, according to a report by Capt. Scott Lamb of the Newport Police Department.

Accident in parking lot of East Tenn. Tile
Richard Higginbotham, 61, of Hillard, Fla., was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche pickup truck on Monday, June 1, around 11:30 a.m., when he was allegedly backing out of a parking spot at East Tennessee Tire. Higginbotham said he did not see a
1999 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Charles D. Lloyd, 36, of Morristown, according to a report by Patrolman Donald Coakley. Higginbotham backed his vehicle in to the passenger side of Lloyd's vehicle.

Accident in Walmart parking lot
Betty Rebecca Smith, 46, of 1718 Neddy Montain Road, in Del Rio, apparently backed out of parking space in row five of the parking lot at Wal-Mart SuperCenter on Monday, June 1, about 8:50 p.m. at the same time that Diosa Paquit Bailey, 31, of 1690 Good Hope Road, in a 1994 Honda Accord. According to a report by Patrolman Matthew Elliott, both vehicles struck each other in the middle of the lane. Smith's vehicle did not receive any damage, but Accord's vehicle had damage to the tail light and minor body damage.     

Sexual assault of a minor alleged
On May 31, Sunday, about 10:30 a.m., on Myers Circle, an adult, according to a report by Patrolman Ricky Parton, allegedly assaulted a four-year-old girl sexually.

Vehicle allegedly forced off road
Morgan Payne, 18, of 104 Majestic Way, in Newport, told Capt. Scott Lamb of the Newport Police Department that she and her 2000 Jeep Cherokee were forced off the road on Saturday, May 30. Payne said an elderly woman merged into her lane. Damage to her vehicle was estimated at $450, according to the report.

Arrest in alleged burglary of car
Steven Hicks was recently arrested and charged with two counts of burglary with regard to a break-in of a car parked at Walmart, which was caught on video, and a car break-in at Ryan's Steakhouse parking lot, on Monday, May 25, according to Newport Police Department incident reports.

Public intoxication arrest
Amanda N. Banks, of 225 Bowman Ave., in Newport, was arrested on Saturday, May 30, after she was allegedly found passed out in her vehicle in front of Citgo.

Aggravated assault charge and arrest
Joseph Senkosky, 21, of Dandridge, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault Monday, June 1, around 10:15 p.m.

2nd DUI charge
Billy V. Norwood, was charged this morning (Tuesday) around 12:45 a.m. and arrested for a second DUI after Capt. James Holt of the Newport Police Department allegedly saw a Ford F-150 pickup truck that was stopped on West Broadway. At the jail annex, he reportedly blew a .26 on a breathalyzer test.