Sheriff's


Arrest for aggravated burglary and theft over $1,000
Randall Wayne Banfield, 42, of 66 Ben Drive, in Maggie Valley, N.C., was arrested and charged with aggravated burglary and theft over $1,000 on Tuesday, Oct. 20, Det. Bryan Murr reported. Banfield was charged with the April 23 burglary of the Kathleen Hayes residence at 110 O'Dell Road in Newport. He was transported back to the Cocke County jail from the North Carolina Dan River Prison in Yanceyville, N.C.

Cigarette maker reported stolen
Roxie Herndon, 35, of Old Fifteen Road, in Del Rio, said that on Friday, Oct. 16, someone stole her cigarette-making machine, Sgt. David Crum reported. The machine was valued at $169.

Theft of personal belongings reported
Jaron Shetley, 22, of Old Greeneville Highway, said three people entered his home and took his personal belongings, on Thursday, Oct. 22, Sgt. David Crum reported.

Vandalism reported
Fred Pack, 80, of Angela Circle, in Newport, said around Oct. 3, one of his tenants moving out of an apartment he owns on Highway 107, in Del Rio, did extensive damage to the residence before moving out, Lt. Rick Laws reported. Damage was listed at about $3,000.

Arrested for domestic assault
Officers went to 194 Buckner Hollow Road on Monday, Oct. 19, and arrested Kenneth Carl Trombley, Jr., 41, and charged him with domestic assault. Trombley allegedly choked his wife, Lisa Cole, 44, and hit her around 5 a.m. on the same day because she did not get up and turn the alarm clock off or make breakfast for him. Cole said Trombley choked her until she couldn't breathe. She said she was in fear for her life, Deputy Sheriff Hollis Emmons reported.

Domestic assault warrant taken out
Handley Townley, 58, of Hill Road, in Newport, said he had an argument with his son, Michael Townley, 26, on Monday, Oct. 19, that resulted in injuries to the father, Deputy Sheriff Hollis Emmons reported. Emmons and Handley Townley took out a domestic assault warrant on the son.

Vehicle reported stolen from car lot
Kevin Wilder said that when he arrived at work at Car Planet, inc., at 702 West Highway 25/70, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 10 a.m., he discovered a white 1994 Toyota 4runner was missing from the car lot, Deputy Sheriff Tony Bailey reported. Wilder said the vehicle was stolen between Monday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m., and when he arrived at work on the next day. The vehicle was valued at $2,200.

Theft reported
Joseph Kelly, 40, of Carson Springs Road, said that sometime between Monday, Oct. 19, and Wednesday, Oct. 21, someone stole a Snap-on jack worth $580 and a jack stand valued at $50, Deputy Sheriff David Parton reported.

Boat motor reported stolen
Don Crumley, 86, of Coops Road, in Newport, said that sometime between Sept. 2 and Sept. 9, someone stole the motor off of his boat that was parked on his property, Deputy Sheriff Brian Holt reported. The boat motor was valued at $800.

Break-in reported
Tommy Strange, 53, of Strange Hollow Road, said that on Monday, Oct. 19, while his family was gone, someone broke into his home and stole several pieces of jewelry, Deputy Sheriff Tony Bailey reported. Items stolen included three diamond rings (valued at $3,000), 10 pairs of ear rings ($2,000), a 10-karat gold necklace ($1,500), and two candles ($200). A damaged glass door was valued at $500.

Theft of wallet reported
Sherry Swogger, 37, of Travis Way, said that on the night of Monday, Oct. 19, someone stole her wallet she left in the glove box of her unlocked vehicle, Deputy Sheriff Tony Bailey reported. Its contents, including $20 in cash, were valued at $140.

Tools, tires, and wheels reported stolen
Marty Ball, 37, of Ponder Road, in Newport, said that sometime between Friday, Oct. 16, and Tuesday, Oct. 20, someone stole several items from an outbuilding, included one set of 10-inch wheels (valued at $150), one set of Buckshot tires ($800), a cordless drill ($100), a tool box and various tools ($200), an electric impact gun ($250), a chainsaw ($150), and several other items with a total value of $1,875.

Aggravated burglary/theft/vandalism
Kenny Lee Stuart, 35, of Dark Hollow Road, in Cosby, said that on Wednesday, Oct. 21, someone stole several items from his home and a storage building, Deputy Sheriff Brian Holt reported. Items stolen included a PlayStation 3 system (valued at $299), a PlayStation 2 game system ($129), a high-definition Magnavox DVD player ($150), a Ruger semi-automatic pistol and four magazines ($500), a .38 caliber revolver ($350), a Davis semi-automatic pistol ($150), a Harrison-Richards single shot shotgun ($500), a Sears & Roebuck 12 gauge bolt action shotgun with a magazine ($350), a .308 caliber bolt action rifle ($400), and 44 other electronics and guns that took a total of two itemized pages in the report to list.

Harassment/phone harassment
Annette Montgomery, 35, of Jimtown Road, named a person she said has threatened her through Montgomery's friend's phone, Deputy Sheriff Tony Bailey reported. Several messages by phone caused Montgomery to be fired from her job at Ryan's Restaurant in Newport, she said.

Warrants pending for theft of U-Haul box truck
Jeff Blackman, of U-Haul Trucks Rental at 1543 East Highway 25/70, in Newport, said a customer rented a U-Haul box truck on Oct. 7 that was due back the next day at the same location. Instead, the truck was stopped in Macintosh County, in George, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, Deputy Sheriff Tony Bailey reported. Warrants are pending for theft of vehicle, the report stated.

Vehicle reported stolen
Steve Wines' acquaintance Lisa Sutton said someone stole a 1978 Chevrolet Nova valued at $2,500 from her home on Thursday, Oct. 22, Sgt. Ricky Holt reported. The vehicle's trunk had about $500 in tools in it, it was reported.
Wines also reported that on the same day, someone stole the tag to his 1980 Ford pickup truck.

Juvenile arrested at Cocke County High School
A 17-year-old was arrested at Cocke County High School on Wednesday, Oct. 21, and charged with simple possession of Schedule VI (marijuana) while on school property, Deputy Sheriff Randy Cutshaw reported. The student was transported to Juvenile Court where he was released to his parents, and zero-toleranced for one year. Another student, 16, said he smoked marijuana before school with the other student. He was also charged with simple possession of Schedule VI (marijuana) while on school property, Cutshaw reported.

Arrested for public intoxication
Frankie B. Randall, 48, of 416 Rock City Road, in Newport, was arrested Thursday, Oct. 22, on Bailey Street, and charged with public intoxication, Deputy Sheriff Randy Cutshaw reported.

Accident on Hooper Highway
A 2003 Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by Debora K. Whitaker, 27, of 4510 Hooper Highway, in Cosby, collided with the rear of a 1996 Honda Accord driven by Hansol Webb, 70, of Polar Way, in Cosby on Wednesday, Oct. 21, on Hooper Highway at Birch Tree Road, Sgt. Eric Rinehart reported. Webb was apparently traveling north on Hooper Highway and slowing or stopped to turn into the parking lot of Laurel Springs Church, when Whitaker was distracted by children in her vehicle and didn't see the Honda Accord slow or stop to make the right turn.

Identity theft/theft over $1,000 reported
Melanie Leann Holt, 31, of Sprouse Lane, in Newport, said someone had accessed her account at Newport Federal Bank in July and purchased items in the amount of $1,291.47, which caused her to have insufficient funds charges of $660.50, Deputy Sheriff David Crowder reported. Items charged included eBay charges of over $427, QVC charges of over $346, Game Stop charges of over $188, Victoria's Secret charges of over $114, Fast Stop Gas charges of $20, and PayPal charges of almost $195.

Tag on vehicle lost
Kevin Wilder, of Car Planet, Inc., at 702 West Highway 25/70, said that on Monday, Oct. 5, a customer test drove a vehicle, and when they returned to the car dealership, the tag had fallen off of the vehicle. It was valued at $26.

Aggravated assault investigation
Daniel T. Lindsey, 31, of Highway 92, in Rutledge, Tenn., said a cashier at the Mountain View Truck Stop pulled a Ruger gun on him on Tuesday, Oct. 20, so he would get Jason Lindsey to return to the store and pay for a cup of coffee he left in the store and refused to pay for. Jason Lindsey said he got a cup of coffee on Monday, Oct. 19, for 99 cents, but on Tuesday, Oct. 20, the same size coffee was now $1.49 plus tax, so he refused to pay for the coffee, and walked out. Jason Lindsey returned and paid the $1.49 plus tax for the coffee. He said the clerk was holding a handgun and shaking nervously. He told Deputy Sheriff Hollis Emmons he did not believe his life was at harm, but he did pull the Ruger and hold it down to his side.


Police


Theft of medication
Joyce Ball, 50, of Parrotts Ridge Way, in Parrottsville, said someone stole an overnight bag with her medication in it from her car while it was parked at Walmart on Wednesday, Oct. 21, Patrolman Allen Stump reported.

Counterfeit money
An employee of Mapco, at 250 West Broadway, in Newport, said a white female, about 20 years old, tried to pay for items in the store with a counterfeit $100 bill. The employee told the woman to wait while she called the police. Instead she went outside and got into a silver two-door Mercury and fled the scene. When the woman's vehicle tag was checked, it came back as not on file, Lt. Terry Lawson reported.

Assault reported
Marcella Mathis, 57, of Lennon Circle, in Newport, said that on Wednesday, Oct. 21, after an alleged offender tried to get Mathis to hit the offender's vehicle while driving, she stopped, got out of her car, and went to the offender's driver's side window and "asked what was her problem," Patrolman William Garber reported. The alleged offender than allegedly grabbed Mathis by her shirt, pulled her into her car, and started slapping and kicking her. Mathis got away, got into her vehicle, and drove off.

Counterfeit bill at Walgreens
Sherri Murrell of Walgreens, at 102 East Broadway, in Newport, said that on Wednesday, Oct. 21, she found a counterfeit $20 bill in a register, but it was unknown when the bill was taken, Sgt. Stephen Higginbotham reported

Assault outside Flatwood Estates
Christy Benson, 24, of Alana Lane, in Newport, said that on Sunday, Oct. 18, she argued with two women by text messaging while Benson was on her way home. Benson said the two women blocked the entrance to the Flatwood Estates, on Rankin Road, Patrolman Ricky Parton reported. Benson said one woman grabbed her by the hair and pulled her out of the vehicle she was driving, and then both hit and kicked her before they drove off.

Assault on Bowman Drive
Timothy Seymour, 19, of East Highway 25/70, in Newport, said that when he went to visit his girlfriend on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at about 11 p.m., a man came out, got angry at Seymour, choked him with both hands and then punched him in his mouth with his fist. Seymour said he drove off to get away from the offender. Patrolman Amy Elswick noticed that Seymour had a bloody lip and visible red marks on his neck.

Robbery/theft under $500
Lara Raines, 27, of Terrace Way, in Newport, said she was walking home from the Newport City Park on Saturday, Oct. 17, at about 5:30 p.m., when she was approached by an early model, red Chevrolet Monte Carlo occupied by three unknown male subjects, Patrolman Robby McMahan reported. Suspicious, she tried to walk away when one of the men hit her in the back of the head with a beer bottle and another one hit her multiple times in the face, causing injury to her right eye. Raines said one of the males got her wallet and took $15 in cash from it, and a debit/credit card worth about $20. Two of the males were white, and one was Hispanic, Raines stated. They were between the ages of 25-30, and drove away in the Chevrolet.

Accident on West Main Street
A three-car collision occurred on Wednesday, Oct. 21, on West Main Street at C Avenue. Joshua W. Hickson, 19, of 156 West Drive, in Parrottsville, was headed west on West Main Street at C Avenue in a 1996 Honda Accord, Lt. Terry Lawson reported. The Honda collided at an angle with a 2007 Chevrolet van driven by Rachel A. Keifer, 64, of 508 Highway 73, in Newport. That caused the van to swerve to the right and collide with a 2001 Ford Windstar van driven by Teresa J. Hickson, 45, of 156 West Drive, in Parrottsville.

DUI 1st offense, other charge
Amanda N. Banks, 29, of 227 South Highway 32, in Cosby, was arrested on Thursday, Oct. 22, and charged with DUI 1st offense and failure to use a turn signal, Lt. Terry Lawson reported.

Burglary of vehicle
Dustin Hurley, of 333 Alex Street, in Newport, said that on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 2 a.m., his neighbor went to his apartment to notify him that the back hatch of his car was open, Patrolman Matt Franklin reported. Hurley noticed speakers and a car stereo amplifier were gone. The Volvanhagan speakers were valued at $500, and the Nitro car stereo amplifier at $100, Patrolman Matt Franklin reported.

Theft of property
Regina Beason, 50, of Lakeview Street, in Newport, said that on Wednesday, Oct. 21, she noticed stolen from a property at 119 Lakeview Street, numerous pieces of various sized lumber (valued at $550-) and 15 concrete center blocks (valued at $30), Capt. Brad Ball reported. A suspect was named.

Breaking and entering/theft over $500
Josh Crumbley, 19, of 228 Seehorn Drive, in Newport reported stolen a Ruger 270 rifle (valued at $500), a Winchester knife ($10), and a pair of Nike Shock shoes ($20), Patrolman Ricky Parton reported on Thursday, Oct. 22. Damage to a door was valued at $100.

No police action taken
Michelle Fox, 25, of Fourth Street, and Lincoln Avenue, reported on Wednesday, Oct. 21, a violation of a court order in reference to a person in her neighborhood who allegedly partially stained a border fence with a wood staining paint. The issue is active in Cocke County Circuit Court, Capt. Brad Ball reported. No police action was taken.

Accident on Carson Springs Road near West Highway 25/70
Daniel B. Evans, 32, of 429 Carson Springs Road, in Newport, was pulling out of an Exxon station in a 2009 Honda UCS, and attempting to make a left turn onto Carson Springs Road, on Thursday, Oct. 22. Evans said he did not see a 2004 Chevrolet van driven by Betty R. Loveday, 63, of Bullard Drive, in Newport, pull out in front of him. Loveday said she was traveling south on Carson Springs Road when she saw Evans in his Honda pull into her lane of traffic, from the Exxon gas station. Loveday said she tried to stop her vehicle in time, but instead the Honda struck the front of her van, Patrolman Amy Elswick reported.

Man involved in accident arrested
Richard ("Ricky") J. Meeks, 36, of 639 8th St., in Newport, was arrested Friday, Oct. 23, and charged with driving on a suspended license and no insurance, Sgt. Jason Smith reported. Meeks was involved in a vehicle accident in a 2010 Toyota van on East Broadway, in front of ConAgra. He allegedly struck Clyde Green's vehicle in the rear.

Counterfeit $5 bill at Walmart
An unknown subject recently came to the electronics cashier at Walmart, at 1075 Cosby Highway, and said when the store cashed his payroll check earlier in the day, he received a counterfeit $5 bill. The male asked to see the store manager, Don Treese, who found the bill to be counterfeit. Treese gave him another $5 bill, Patrolman Robby McMahan reported.

Shoplifting at truck stop
Joe Scruggs, a cashier at Time Out Truck Stop, located at 1130 West Highway 25/70, in Newport, said the store's video caught two white, unknown females shoplifting in the store on Friday, Oct. 23, at 11:40 p.m., Patrolman Robby McMahan reported. The women allegedly stole one Lucas hub oil (valued at $8.99), one flame sticker ($19.95), and one can of air freshener ($3.69).

Counterfeit bill at Murphy gas station
A man tried to pass a counterfeit $5 bill to pay for fuel at Murphy gas station, located at 1077 Cosby Highway, in Newport, on Friday, Oct. 23, Patrolman Matthew Elliott reported. The attendant asked the man for an ID, and said he did not have any. He said his name was "James Wyatt," according to the employee. It was the second time the man had tried to pass a counterfeit bill. He was gone before police arrived. The tag on his vehicle came back to Terri McKinney, at 302 9th St., in Newport

Theft under $500
Brittany Web, 20, of 509 Second St., in Newport, said that on Thursday, Oct. 22, a named suspect visited her home and stole $200 in cash from her purse. Web also has three roommates, Patrolman Allen Stump reported.

Theft over $1,000/vandalism
Kelly Wilson, 27, of Red Hill Road, in Newport, said she parked her 2002 1500 pickup truck on Friday, Oct. 16, at the Sunset Grill, located at 742 Thin Wood Drive. She told Patrolman Billy Woody that when she returned to her vehicle at about 1:20 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, she found a window broken out to her truck and several items missing that totaled $1,250. The items included a red Guess purse (valued at $150), a Motorola cell phone ($300), $200 in cash, plus other items belonging to passenger Jessica Norris, as well. A named white female in her 20's was a suspect because she was seen entering and leaving the parking lot several times.

Counterfeit $20 bill
Danny Ray Worex, 54, tried to pass a counterfeit $20 bill on Sunday, Oct. 18, at Quick Stop, at 366 West Broadway, in Newport. Worex named a person he allegedly got the bill from.

Counterfeit bill at Murphy gas station
Fannie Mae Masingale, 47, of 154 Parrotts Circle, in Parrottsville, tried to purchase a carton of cigarettes with money that included a counterfeit $5 bill, at Murphy gas station, in front of Walmart at 1075 Cosby Highway, on Sunday, Oct. 18, Sgt. Stephen Higginbotham reported. Masingale told police she received the bill from one of three stores she had been to.

Generator stolen from Newport Street Department
David Hill said that on Friday, Oct. 23, someone, probably two people or more, stole a Honda EX5500 generator from the back lot of the Newport Street Department on Locust Avenue, Sgt. Jason Smith reported. The generated was valued at $5,000, and damage to a gate at $200.

Fraudulent use of a debit card alleged
Teanna McCall, 36, of West Hunt Road, in Alcoa, said someone made a cash withdrawal for $100 at an ATM with her debit card number, on Monday, Oct. 19, at Amoco Express, at 1274 West Highway 25/70, in Newport. McCall said she has since closed her account. She also told a Newport Police Department officer that she had the only debit card to her account in her possession at the time of the withdrawal.

Vehicle damage at yard sale
Carolyn Ball, 61, of Arlis Road, in Newport, said that on Friday, Oct. 23, at a yard sale on English Street, she stopped her 1998 Subaru when the back window was hit by a rock and shattered. Tosha Lee Myers, 24, said she was mowing the yard when the rock hit the Subaru's window, which was valued at $300.

Accident at Cocke County High School parking lot
Rhonda Kay Blalock, of College Street, said she was in her parked 2004 Honda van at Cocke County High School's parking lot recently when a 2002 Ford Excursion SUV driven by Julie Camille Crabtree, 35, of Rock Hill Road, in Newport, backed into the driver's side of the Honda, Patrolman Billy Woody reported.