Sheriff's


Break-in, theft in church reported
Donnie Sutton of Basinger Chapel Church, located at 181 Joe Reed Road, in Bybee, told Cocke County Deputy Sheriff Alton Cureton that on Wednesday, June 17, at 6 p.m., Sutton and pastor Franklin Wines discovered the church had been broken into, apparently through an unlocked window. Reported stolen were a Gateway computer (valued at $2,500), a 60-watt amp ($300), and a white bass guitar ($300).

Theft alleged
Gary Hall, 30, of 635 Vantage Drive, in Cosby, and lien holder Joseph R. Jacobs, of 2433 Denton Road, in Cosby, reported to Sgt. David Crum of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department that on Thursday, June 18, while they were out of town, an individual had a green 1994 Dodge truck at Hall's residence towed away. That individual also allegedly entered the home on Vantage Drive and was accused of taking items from the house. A friend who was allegedly asleep on the couch said he saw the individual in the house. Items reported stolen were pictures of Jacobs and his son, valued at $260, $60 worth of Wii games, and the Dodge truck (valued at $1,500).

Trailer and car on fire
Hersatl Mantooth, 79, of Bat Harbor Road, in Newport, owns a trailer currently rented out, and that on Saturday, June 13, at about 2 a.m., was on fire. Officers responding to a call found the trailer, at 1204 Sprouse Lane, burning. In the driveway, about 50 feet away, the inside of a vehicle was also on fire. The trailer's tenant was apparently not at home at the time of the fire, according to a report by Sgt. Ricky Holt of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department.

Harassing phone calls alleged
Mary J. Turner, 67, of Irish Cut Road, in Newport, stated on Thursday, June 18, to Lt. Rick Laws of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department that in the previous two weeks, a man had been calling her and harassing her on the telephone, Laws' report stated.

Windshield cracked
Robert Grooms, 41, of C & C Hollow Road, in Newport, told Cocke County Deputy Sheriff Alton Cureton that on Thursday, June 18, he was driving north on Highway 321 in Parrottsville "near the old Shaver Shell building" when he apparently got behind three dump trucks. That's when a rock fell from one of the trucks and allegedly cracked the windshield to a 2006 Honda Civic he was driving. The vehicle belongs to Shannon C. Hall, the report stated.

Tailgate reported stolen
Larry J. Cutshaw, 51, of Circle Road, in Newport, stated that he discovered a tailgate on his 2000 Chevy S-10 had been stolen when he stopped at a market early in the morning on Tuesday, June 16, on his way to work. He said on the previous day, June 15, he returned home around 7 p.m. On June 16, he left his home around 5:30 a.m., according to a report from Cocke County Deputy Sheriff Joseph Owings.



Police


Shoplifting citation
Tommy Jack Dorsey, 28, of 211 South Highway 32, in Cosby, was issued a citation for allegedly shoplifting merchandise worth $34 from Walmart on Wednesday, June 10, according to a report by Patrolman Justin Vinson.

Theft under $500 charge and arrest
Jerry Wheeler, 42, of 540 6th St., in Newport, was arrested Saturday, June 20 at his residence and charged with theft under $500, according to a report by Sgt. Jason Smith. Officers on June 16 allegedly went to 757 Musterfield Road on a report of a theft. A relative said then she suspected Wheeler stole her air conditioning unit while she was at work because Wheeler had just helped her install it and he allegedly had stolen from her in the past. Wheeler was contacted at home on Saturday because of a failure to appear charge and to question him about the theft. Wheeler said he waited until the relative went to work and stole the air conditioning unit. He has only one arm and said he had help removing it, but did not give a name. Wheeler returned the unit to Lowe's and kept the $145. He "also stated that he took the AC unit to have money to purchase narcotics," according to Smith's report.

DUI 1st and speeding charges in arrest
Robert S. Green, 54, of 334 Foxtail, in Newport, was arrested Saturday, June 20, at 3:30 a.m. after Sgt. Jason Smith allegedly saw him traveling 53 m.p.h. in a 40 m.p.h. zone on Cosby Highway. Green was pulled over in the Waffle House parking lot. Smith wrote that he noticed a strong odor of alcohol, slurred speech, and Green's reactions were slow. Green allegedly admitted to having "a couple" of drinks of alcohol. He failed two field sobriety tests, Smith's report stated. He was charged with DUI 1st and speeding.

Four charges in arrest
Kevin Hill, 32, of 1330 Worley Loop Road, in Del Rio, was arrested Saturday, June 20, at 1:30 a.m., and charged with speeding, no insurance, no registration, and driving with a revoked license. Patrolman Derek Wright wrote in a report that he spotted Hill driving 62 m.p.h. in a 45 m.p.h. zone. His license was allegedly revoked for a DUI out of Cocke County.

Two domestic assault-related charges and public intoxication
Tracy D. Camp, alias "Cindy Parnell," 40, was arrested Friday, June 19, at about 2:30 p.m. and charged with violation of probation/domestic assault, a capias for public intoxication/disorderly conduct, and a capias for domestic assault. Sgt. Donna Hopkins wrote in a report that Camp was staying in room 123 of Family Inns of America on the Cosby Highway. Hopkins said a woman in the doorway, when asked, said her name was "Cindy." She smelled strongly of alcohol and was very uncooperative, according to the report. Hopkins took "Cindy" into custody until she could determine her correct identity. She then said she was Tracy Camp. Sevier County's sheriff's department faxed copies of warrants for Camp's arrest to the Newport Police Department. Camp was arrested and taken to the Cocke County Jail Annex.

DUI 4th and other charge in arrest
Joseph M. Lindsey, 47, of 974 Dirt Way, in Dandridge, was arrested on Friday, June 19 at about 11 p.m. by Capt. James Holt. Lindsey was charged with DUI 4th and driving on a revoked license. Holt allegedly observed a 1992 Subaru driven by Lindsey going east in the west bound lane of Highway 25/70 near the Midnight Rodeo. The car then turned onto Carson Springs Road, headed south, and was not kept in the lane of travel, according to Holt's report. Records showed Lindsey had a DUI in 2004 and two DUIs in 2007, according to Holt's report.

Push mower reported stolen
Ronald Potts, 32, of 691 Epley Road, in Newport, told Sgt. Donna Hopkins on Friday, June 19, that a relative and two other individuals took Potts' Bowens push mower. It was pawned to Newport Pawn Shop on June 17 for $40. A man at the pawn shop allegedly told Potts he would sell it back to Potts for the $40 he paid to the relative who pawned it, Hopkins report stated.

Accident at Eastport Exxon on East Broadway
Beulah S. Wilhite, 72, of Strawberry Plains Parkway, in Strawberry Plains, allegedly drove through a bay door at Eastport Exxon, at 622 East Broadway, on Friday, June 19. It caused moderate damage to the bay door, according to Patrolman Travis Gorrell's report. Wilhite's daughter was contacted to pick up Wilhite after Wilhite allegedly drove through a red light on East Broadway at the Cosby Highway.

Hit-and-run accident alleged
A 2006 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck owned by Jon B. James, of 885 Caney Hollow Road, in Newport, was parked at Dr. Thomas Conway's office at 434 4th St., in Newport, on Monday, June 15, when at about 2:15 p.m. it was struck by an unknown vehicle on the passenger side. White paint was transferred onto the passenger side of the Toyota, according to a report by Sgt. Donna Hopkins.

Harassment alleged
Tisha Cody, 27, of 644 Myers Circle, in Newport, told Patrolman Heather Lawson that on Friday, June 19, at about 11:30 p.m., she was at Walmart when an individual pulled up next to her vehicle at a red light and screamed obscenities out the window. The individual then allegedly repeated the action several times, following her down the road, pulling up next to her at each red light, and yelling obscenities. Cody said she drove home and while on her porch, the individual drove down her street, still yelling and screaming obscenities out the window.

Theft and kidnapping alleged
Donna M. Twiss, 24, of Baysinger Road, in Newport, went to the Newport Police Department on April 2 and reported to Capt. Ronnie Landers that she and an individual were in Twiss's 2001 Kia Altima while Twiss drove. They allegedly stopped for gasoline at Mapco Express on West Broadway. While Twiss was inside the convenience store, the offender allegedly got in the driver's seat of the Kia, pushed Twiss, and tried to drive away without her. Twiss was able to get back in her vehicle. The offender allegedly took her VISA credit card and $10 in cash. The offender then allegedly drove Twiss against her will to the National Guard Armory, where the car broke down. Someone picked up the offender and left Twiss at the Armory. Twiss put a stop on her credit card before any unauthorized charges were made, according to Landers' report.

Drug paraphernalia found
Joe Gunter, 49, of 220 Melton Road, in Newport, said on May 25 that a young boy staying at Gunter's home found several hypodermic needles and a spoon lying on the ground behind the home. Officers collected the items and tested the spoon for any sign of narcotics. It was negative, according to a report by Patrolman William Garber.

Rape allegedly attempted
A 14-year-old girl allegedly went to a neighbor's apartment to visit a 7-year-old friend. A white, 17-year-old male answered the door and told the girl her friend was back in her room. The friend was not there, according to a Newport Police Department report. The male allegedly tried to rape the girl before she was able to escape, unlock the door, get out and run home. She told two people what happened and they called 911. The alleged offender was picked up by police and brought to the police department. He provided police with a written statement after his mother arrived. The allegedly victim also provided a written statement at the police department.