Sheriff's


Arrested and charged with three aggravated assaults
Cadmus W. Wattenbarger, 43, of 577 Jessica Way, in Newport, was arrested Tuesday, June 16, at about 11 p.m. and charged with aggravated assault (three times), public intoxication, and disorderly conduct. Officers were called concerning an intoxicated male causing problems and threatening people with a knife. Upon arrival, there was a large crowd of people in the road, according to Sgt. Armando Fontes. Christopher Henry, 30, of 571 Jessica Way, said he went outside and tried to get Wattenbarger to go to his house and be quiet. A fight broke out and Wattenbarger allegedly hit Henry in the face and ribs. Two other men allegedly broke up the fight and then Wattenbarger pulled a knife from his pocket and threatened the group of men. Officers found a knife lying in the yard next to a neighbor's porch that Wattenbarger allegedly threw there. Wattenbarger allegedly tore an interior door off the hinges to his house. Other victims were identified as Eric Turner, 28, of 572 Jessica Way and Bill Henry, 27, of 575 Jessica Way.

Two-vehicle accident on Industrial Road alleged
Brian C. Freeman, 42, of 1410 Highway 160, in Bybee was allegedly approaching a set of railroad tracks on Industrial Road on May 26 near Lehigh Road when, after he slowed down to cross the tracks, a 2003 Honda driven by William Saylor, 40, of 5 Wedgefield Place, in Asheville, N.C., allegedly collided with the rear end of Freeman's vehicle, doing moderate damage. The Honda did not sustain any damage, according to a report by Cocke County Deputy Sheriff Tony Bailey.

Two-vehicle accident in Family Inn parking lot
Loretta K. Arrington, 64, of 539 Woodlawn Ave., in Newport allegedly pulled her 1993 Nissan pickup truck from a parking space in the Family Inn parking lot on West Highway 25/70 on Monday, June 15, when a 1997 Ford F-15 pickup truck driven by Wilbur N. Heatherly, 84, of 1264 Fine St., in Newport, allegedly backed from his parking spot and struck the Nissan truck, according to a report by Lt. Jonathan Morgan of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department.

Car allegedly leaves road and flips, injuring two
Amanda Murphy, 18, of 450 Overlook Way, in Newport, was on Friday, June 12, at about 2 a.m. allegedly driving a 1999 Ford Escort on a suspended license north on South Highway 107 near Blue Mill Road when the vehicle left the right side of the road, hit a ditch, went over a driveway, and hit another ditch which caused the vehicle to flip onto its top. Murphy and an unnamed passenger were allegedly injured and taken to the ER at Baptist Hospital of Cocke County, according to a report by Cocke County Deputy Sheriff Randall Hartsell.

Two-vehicle accident in Del Rio
Savannah Kay Brooks, 59, of 120 Decatur Way, in Del Rio, was allegedly backing her 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue on Saturday, June 13, at 7 a.m., when she hit a 2002 Kia Spectra driven by Elizabeth Nell Brooks, of the same address, because Brooks did not see the other vehicle, according to a report by Cocke County Deputy Sheriff David Crowder.

Motorcycle crash leads to hospitalization
Richard D. Andrews, 60, of 5336 Raven Branch Road, in Del Rio, was driving a 2006 Yamaha on Monday, June 8, around 7:45 p.m., on Big Creek Road when he allegedly lost control of the motorcycle while negotiating a curve, according to a report from Lt. Jonathan W. Morgan of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department. Andrews allegedly injured his shoulder and was taken by private vehicle to ER at Baptist Hospital of Cocke County, and then transferred to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for treatment. He reported the crash immediately following his release from the Medical Center, where he underwent surgery.

Vehicle leaves Highway 73, strikes brick mailbox
Ruby H. Messer, 55, of 952 Chicken Hollow Road, in Newport, was driving a 1998 Ford Windstar van on Saturday, June 13, around 9 a.m., traveling southbound on Edwina Road. Near Pleasant Grove Road, she allegedly took her eyes off the road briefly and the vehicle drifted off the right side of the road and struck a brick mailbox belonging to the residence of 1729 Edwina Road, according to a report by Cocke County Deputy Sheriff Brian Holt. The van reportedly was damaged on the passenger side, and the mailbox also sustained damage, the report stated.

Teenage granddaughter reported missing
Mary C. Conz, 64, of Little Berry Way, in Del Rio, stated that just after midnight of Saturday, June 13, she last spoke to her granddaughter, Morgan Taylor Crowder, 17 at her home. Conz told Lt. Rick Laws of the Cocke County Sheriff's Department that when she checked her granddaughter's room at 7 a.m. on June 14, Crowder was gone, and not in the house. Laws wrote, "At this time it is unknown where Morgan has went or who she left with."

Public intoxication arrest on Highway 25/70
Eugene Pfendler, 46, of 361 Old Sevierville Highway, in Newport, was arrested Saturday, June 13, at the 411 Citgo gas station on Highway 25/70, according to a report by Cocke County Deputy Sheriff David Parton. The report stated that police were called to the Citgo on a possible drunk or dead man laying in the grass. Pfendler allegedly had a strong odor of alcohol on his person and bloodshot eyes.

Public intoxication arrest in Hartford
Brandon James Harloff, 31, of 8199 East One Mile, in White Cloud, Missouri, was on Sunday, June 14, allegedly sitting in front of the Hartford Citgo gas station, According to Cocke County Deputy Sheriff Steve Johnson's report, Harloff was "extremely unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech, and bloodshot eyes. He was arrested and charged with public intoxication.

Ohio driver arrested for DUI 1st and other charges
Karen Rena Jones, 32, of Route 32, in Eaton, Ohio, was allegedly found by Cocke County Deputy Sheriffs Joseph Owings and Randall Hartsell on Tuesday, June 16, walking down a road from a vehicle wreck at 225 Carson Springs Road. Jones allegedly had a very strong odor of alcohol about her person, was very unsteady on her feet, had slurred speech, and bloodshot eyes. She allegedly failed all field sobriety tests and was read her Miranda rights. She admitted driving a van in the wreck. When questioned, Jones allegedly became very unruly, disorderly, and at the time of arrest, very belligerent to an officer. Jones was offered medical treatment several times but refused it, according to the report. She was charged with driving under the influence 1st, driving on a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident, and refusing implied consent.


Police


Two arrests, both for burglary of a vehicle and theft over $500
Emily Martin of Wellington Place of Newport, on Hedrick Drive, reported that someone stole her Rothford Fosgate speakers and amp from her 2009 Chevrolet Blazer SUV. Larry Stanley, 19, of 629 Upper Broad, in Newport, was arrested on Wednesday, June 17 at 3 a.m. at 569 Woodlawn Ave. Steven R. Hicks, 31, of 822 Navaho Drive, in Newport was also arrested at the Woodlawn address. Both Stanley and Hicks admitted to the theft and burglary of Martin's SUV, according to a report by Sgt. Jason Smith. The speakers and amp were valued at $850. Damage was estimated at $100.

Two-vehicle accident at Walmart
Christine Reyes, of 7401 Armory Road, in Newport, said she parked her 2006 Ford Mustang in the parking lot of Walmart on Monday, June 15, and went into the store to shop. Walmart paged her and she went outside and discovered her car had jumped out of gear and struck a 2003 Nissan Sentra owned by Julie Fine, of 356 McGaha Chapel Road, in Newport, in the rear door on the driver's side. Fine had parked her Nissan and gone into Walmart to work, according to Patrolman Donald Coakley.

Phone harassment alleged
Jeff Spears told Patrolman Donald Coakley that on Tuesday, June 9, an individual called Sheila Speers at God's Storehouse thrift store and pantry, cussed her out, and threatened physical harm. Jeff Spears told police that the individual had called on two previous occasions and threatened physical harm to Sheila Speers, according to Coakley's report.

Burglary of a vehicle alleged
Natasha Askey, 29, of Highway 160, in Newport, said the following was taken from her unlocked 1996 Honda on Saturday, June 13: three social security cards for three people, First Tennessee checks worth $20, her purse ($30), driver's license ($20), and ATM card, according to a report by Capt. Scott Lamb.

Bad checks/forgery alleged
Arvis Keys, 67, of Lucky Pawn at 321 West Broadway, said he cashed two checks for an individual in January. Ronda Smallwood said she knows the individual, but on one check she said she did not give the check to the individual or authorize her to sign it. The second check was for Edward D. Haney. Haney filed a lost check claim, saying he never got the check. The same individual allegedly signed the check and cashed it at Lucky Pawn.

Breaking and entering, theft alleged
John Gabriel told the Newport Police Department that a woman called him to say she drove by an apartment at 107A Lincoln Ave., in Newport, on Friday, June 12, at 10:30 p.m. and noticed that the front door was open. Gabriel investigated and found the front door to the apartment kicked in and the following items missing: a TV (worth $50), two lamps ($20), and six paintings ($20 each). He valued the door at $200.

Vandalism alleged
Kassaundra Wilde, 19, of Good Hope Road, in Parrottsville, said she parked her 2001 Chevrolet car in the parking lot for Shoney's Restaurant at 911 Cosby Highway in Newport for two hours. When she returned to her vehicle, someone had allegedly damaged the window molding on the passenger side of her vehicle, according to Patrolman Amy Elswick.

Phone harassment and verbal assault alleged
Lorin Kelly, 17, of Marshall Drive, in Bybee said that on Sunday, June 14 at midnight, she and her mother went to Fred's at 122 Five Rivers Plaza Way, in Newport, to meet with an individual returning some items belonging to Kelly and another individual. When the individual with the items saw Kelly, she allegedly took her fist, punched her hand, and said, "You're about to get this fist in your face," according to a report by Patrolman Amy Elswick. The mother reportedly called the police and the individual fled the scene before officers arrived. While the police were present, the individual alleged called Kelly on her cell phone and said, "You better stay away from (the other individual) if you know what is best for you," according to the report.

Family visitation does not materialize
Mattie Brooks, 28, of 1941 Ravine Lane, in New Market, went to the Newport Police Department to make a report after a family visitation did not materialize on Sunday, June 7 nor on Sunday, June 14, according to a report by Patrolman Jason Hensley. Brooks was advised to keep a copy of the report for her records and to let her lawyer see it.

Physical harm allegedly threatened
Ashley Barnett, 20, of Bowman Drive, in Newport told a Newport Police Department officer an individual had threatened her and said "one day she and her daughter wouldn't wake up," according to a police report. The individual allegedly took a spare house key and refused to return it. Barnett was allegedly advised on how to obtain an Order of Protection.

Alleged theft of medication
Charlie Huff allegedly confronted two individuals he accused of stealing his mother's medication. A physical fight involving the three adults ensued. Huff's mother, Janey Shananan, said she had her prescription filled Wednesday, June 10 and had not taken any since then. Police allegedly counted Shananan's medicine for her. They found 53 out of 150 pills were missing, as well as $200 she had in her purse. Huff said he was missing a knife with a brown handle worth $40, according to Patrolman Matthew Elliott.

Cell phone reported stolen
Dawn Gregory, 28, of English Street, in Newport, said on Thursday, June 11, that someone stole her gold Motorola Razr cell phone from her house that she allegedly bought for her son, according to Sgt. Jason Smith of the Newport Police Department. Gregory valued the cell phone at $500.

Vandalism alleged
Rita Evans, the manager of Suncrest Apartments at 261 Suncrest Way, in Newport. Alleged that a former renter broke into her old mailbox at the apartment office to see if she had any mail. The renter was evicted at the end of April and allegedly "still continues to come onto the property and vandalize or try to get into her mailbox even after the locks had been changed, according to a report by Patrolman Justin Vinson.

Violation of three separate rental contracts alleged
An employee of Ez Rentals at 1059 Cosby Highway, in Newport, went to the Newport Police Department to report three separate cases where each individual rented a TV that they have fallen behind in making monthly payments. One individual allegedly rented a 42-inch Toshiba worth $1,746 that is being rented for $141.69 per month. Ez Rentals' records allegedly show the individual owes $246 in back payments, according to a report by Capt. Brad Ball on Tuesday, June 9. A second client allegedly agreed to pay $132.32 per month for a 42-inch LG flat screen TV worth $1,398. That person is behind $347 in payments, according to the Ez Rentals employee. A third individual had rented a 50-inch LG plasma screen TV on April 17 and made only the first payment, for $132. On Monday, June 15, the client allegedly told Ez Rentals the TV had been stolen from their residence. It is valued at $2,149, according to a report by Patrolman Donald Coakley. The client said the TV was stolen on May 18, according to the report.

Vandalism of Ford Thunderbird alleged
Preston Gray, 35, of Old Rankin Road, in Newport, reported to police on Tuesday, June 16, that an individual scratched the driver's door and hood of his 1990 Ford Thunderbird, according to Patrolman Travis Gorrell.