SHERIFF REPORTS


Investigation into animal cruelty
Robert Brannon at the Newport Animal shelter told Deputy Sheriff David Crowder on Wednesday, Nov. 4, he investigated a complaint of two dogs at a Clevenger Cut Road in poor conditions. Brannon said "one dog was in deplorable condition and the other dog looked pretty bad. I could not see any food or water and nobody would ever come to the door," Crowder reported. Animal Control Officer Scotty Shelton confirmed Brannon's report and took the two dogs to the Animal Shelter for safe-keeping.

Divorced couple squabble
A 24-year-old divorced woman living on Sapphire Road, in Newport, said her ex-husband violated their divorce agreement from Friday, Oct. 30 - Wednesday, Nov. 4, but not allowing her to talk to her children twice a week during the week they are with the ex-husband, Deputy Sheriff Brian Holt reported.

Damage to car blamed on neighbor's bulldog
A couple who live on Sprouse Road, in Newport, said their neighbor's Boxer bulldog has dented, severely scratched, broken a passenger mirror, and chewed their 1996 Honda Accord while parked in the couple's driveway, from August through Wednesday, Nov. 4, Lt. Rick Laws reported. The couple estimated the damage to be "at least $3,000, or more," the report stated.

Vandalism investigation
A 23-year-old Newport woman living with her boyfriend in a mobile home on Charity Way told Deputy Sheriff Brian Holt that on Monday, Nov. 2, the two were served with a writ of possession that evicted them from the property they were renting. They went to their lawyer who allegedly wrote a writ asking the court to allow the two adults to remain on the property until a court hearing can be scheduled. They told Holt, however, that when they returned home later that day, someone had cut the electrical wiring and conduit leading to their mobile home. The damage is estimated at $1,000.

Ford Focus reported stolen
Melissa Cardin, 42, of Overlook Way, said on either Tuesday, Nov. 3 after 7 p.m., or on the next day, before 5 a.m., someone stole her 2006 Ford Focus that she valued at $8,000. She told Deputy Sheriff Randall Hartsell that she left the keys on the driver's seat and the doors to the vehicle were unlocked. Cardin said also stolen were a car full of items to sell in a yard sale, including pictures (valued at $400), 60 cowboy boots ($3,600), three pocketbooks ($600), jewelry ($3,000), clothes, and many other items.

Accident in church parking lot
Linda Sue Freshour, 51, of Fox Hollow Road, in Bybee, said that on Wednesday, Nov. 4, she accidentally backed her 2005 Ford F15 pickup truck into a parked, driverless 2004 Chrysler PTC owned by Erica Bramhall, of Joe Reed Road, in Bybee. It happened in the parking lot of Bybee Methodist Church, Deputy Sheriff Brian Holt reported. The Chrysler sustained damage to the front of the vehicle and driver's side front fender.

Theft under $500
Boyd Garris, 56, of 1267 Smoky Hollow Way, in Del Rio, said a woman he had given a ride, called him, asking for a place to live, so he allowed her to stay about three weeks. He said that on Oct. 4, he kicked her out when he found her in the bathroom "cooking up dope in a spoon," Deputy Sheriff David Crowder reported. He said he suspects she stole the following items he found missing: a men's gold wedding bank (valued at $110), a JVC video cassette recorder ($100), and a Skil saw ($50).

Recovery of stolen tag
Sgt. Tony Whitten reported that he found a tag stolen out of Sevier County on a stolen vehicle parked behind Cosby Independent Baptist Church, on Oct. 24. The tag was removed and turned in, Whitten wrote.

Vehicle leaves road, hits wire fence and tree
Suzanne M. Layman, 35, of 266 Highway 411, in Newport, was traveling east in a 1994 Jeep STT on Wednesday, Nov. 4, on New Cave Church Road near Able Way. Layman entered a curve, the right side of the Jeep dropped off the road, the vehicle dropped off an embankment, and damage was done to the entire vehicle, Deputy Sheriff Andy Tritt reported. The vehicle struck a tree head on and damaged a wire fence.

Accident on North Highway 321
Norma Jeanette Stapleton, 51, of 1000 Highland Meadows, in Parrottsville, was driving a 2006 Mini Cooper south on Highway 321 on Friday, Nov. 23, at about 7:45 p.m., when she failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle went into the right side of the shoulder of the highway. Witnesses said Stapleton tried to drive the vehicle off, but the entire left front wheel was torn off. One witness said she was alone and appeared highly intoxicated. She fled the scene with another motorist and did not report the accident to police. She went to the sheriff's department on Monday, Nov. 2 to get her report. Stapleton reportedly stated she was "blinded by another motorist" and left the scene "because she was upset," Sgt. Armando Fontes reported. She was charged with leaving the scene and failure to notify.

House found ransacked
Casey Luann Mayes, 23, of 181 Raccoon Valley Way, in Newport, said she was home on Tuesday, Nov. 3, around 2:20 p.m. when a man broke in and ransacked her entire home while she laid down to take a nap. Nothing was stolen, Deputy Sheriff Joseph Owings reported.

Break-in reported
John Thacker, 64, of 364 Warrior Ridge Way, said he noticed on Tuesday, Nov. 3, that someone had broken into some buildings on his property, Deputy Sheriff Tony Bailey reported. Thacker said the thief took two radiators (valued at $100), two truck batteries ($160), miscellaneous truck parts/scrap metal ($100), a hood emblem for a Ford Explorer ($150), two doors ($50), a window ($25), and two hasps ($20).

Shotgun stolen
Ira Woody, 45, of Highway 25E, in Newport, said that on Tuesday, Nov. 3, between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., someone kicked in the rear door of his residence and took a 12-gauge Maverick worth $400, and caused $600 of damage to the door and frame, Sgt. Tony Whitten reported.

Break-in reported
Christine Ramsey, 66, of Jasmine Drive, in Newport, said that sometime between 3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, and 8 a.m. on Nov. 3, someone damaged the front door, broke the glass out, and broke open the basement door, but nothing was stolen, Deputy Sheriff Tony Bailey reported. The doors are valued at $1,100.

DUI, other charges
Clifton D. Raines, 43, of 1238 Piney Mt. Road, in Newport, was arrested Thursday, Nov. 5, and charged with DUI 2nd offense, fleeing to evade arrest by a motor vehicle, and violation of the implied consent law, Sgt. Ricky Holt reported. Raines allegedly pled guilty to a DUI 1st offense the day before, on Nov. 4.

DUI charge and arrest
Kimberly Lynn Lyon, 22, of 556 North Ownby Road, in Gatlinburg, was arrested Friday, Nov. 6, and charged with DUI, Deputy Sheriff Steve Johnson reported.

Collision on Carson Springs Road
A 2000 Toyota Camry driven by Joann G. Williams, 55, of 508 Paint Brush Way, in Newport, struck in the rear a 2004 Chrysler STC driven by Donna M. Hall, 43, of 508 Strawberry Way, in Newport, Deputy Sheriff Brian Holt reported, on Thursday, Nov. 5. The accident occurred while both vehicles were traveling north on Carson Springs Road, near Clevenger Cut-off Road. Williams came to a sudden stop due to traffic ahead of it that stopped. Hall then struck Williams' vehicle.

Hit and run on Dark Hollow Road
Andrew Loveday, 23, of 370 Ball Way, in Newport, said he was traveling north on Dark Hollow Road, in a 1989 Buick, on Thursday, Nov. 5, around 10 p.m., when he negotiated a curve and a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction crossed over into his lane and knocked off his driver's side mirror, but did not stop, Deputy Sheriff C. J. Ball reported.

Vehicle hits deer head on
Crystal Marie Holt, 33, of Joyful Way, in Newport, said she was driving a 2008 Ford Focus on Point Pleasant Road, on Thursday, Nov. 5, at around 6 a.m., when a deer ran into the vehicle's path, Sgt. Eric Rinehart reported. The impact of hitting the deer head-on caused damage to the front and right front fender of the vehicle.

Trespassing
A resident of Dean Way, in Del Rio, allegedly went to several houses on South Highway 340, on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at about 10:30 p.m., asking the occupants if he could borrow some money, Deputy Sheriff Randy Cutshaw reported. The person has allegedly been told to stop trespassing on people's property, or risk going to jail.

Vehicle damaged at Carver's Orchard
Bruce Gaines, 66, of Turfway Trail, in Batavia, Ohio, parked his car at Carver's Orchard restaurant on Thursday, Nov. 5, in a parking space near a tree. A limb fell from the tree on to the top of Gaines' 2004 Nissan Maxima. The top of the vehicle was damaged. Carver allegedly told Gaines "it was an act of God, and there was nothing he could do," Sgt. David Crum reported.

Theft from vehicle
Patricia Leonard, 42, of French Mill Road, in Dandridge, said her vehicle was parked on Carson Springs Road on Thursday, Nov. 5. She said she discovered the next day that her vehicle had been broken into and the following items stolen: medicine (valued at $59), $20 in cash, a $45 Walmart gift card, documents, and a gold chain valued at $100, Sgt. David Crum reported.  A suspect was named.

Accident on Highway 321
A chain reaction accident involving three vehicles occurred Tuesday, Nov. 3, around 6:15 p.m., on Highway 321 at Armory Road, Deputy Sheriff Robert Thornton reported.  A 2003 Hyundai SUV driven by Emma A. Caulder, 39, of Hannon Road, in Newport, was stopped on Highway 321, headed south and waiting to turn left onto Armory Road.  Stopped behind the SUV was a 2004 Dodge Durango SUV driven by Joseph A. Cureton, 26, of Clifton Heights Road, in Newport. A 2009 Ford SUV driven by Robert N. Holt, 21, of Crest Drive, in Cleveland, Tenn., rear-ended the Dodge SUV, and the impact made the Dodge SUV rear-end the Hyundai SUV. The Hyundai SUV received back-end damage. The vehicle in the middle, the Dodge SUV, had back-end and front-end damage. The Ford SUV had front-end damage. No one was hurt.

Break-in reported, but nothing stolen
Jimmy Burrell, 61, of Cosby Highway, in Newport, said that sometime between Monday, Oct. 26, and Friday, Nov. 6, someone broke out a window on the front door of his home, to gain entry, Deputy Sheriff Derrick Webb reported. Nothing appeared to be missing. Damage to the door's window pane is estimated at $200.

Theft reported
Holly Stuart, 29, of Underwood Road, in Newport, said someone broke into her home and vehicle on Friday, Nov. 6, Lt. Richard Caldwell reported. Items stolen were: medication valued at $50, a pink PlayStation game ($120), and a Game Boy Advance ($70), for a total of $240 in value. Stuart named a suspect.


POLICE REPORTS


Failure to appear charge and arrest
Marie M. Miller, 27, of 129 Clamron Drive, in Bybee, was arrested Wednesday, Nov. 4, and charged with failure to appear, Patrolman Allen Stump reported.

Violation charge at pawn shop
Charles G. Epley, 60, of 366 Idlewild Drive, in White Pine, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 6, and charged with violation of record of pawn transaction, Det. Donna Hopkins reported. Hopkins noted that Tennessee Code 45-6-209(d) requires that all records of transactions at a pawn shop must be turned in every 48 hours to the police department. Epley was arrested at Lucky Pawn, located at 321 West Broadway, in Newport.

Debit card fraud
Jessie Shaver went to the police department to say someone used her Greene County Bank debit card three times on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Murphy Oil USA, for $40, $50, and $60, without her authorization. Shaver named a possible suspect, Lt. Terry Lawson reported.

SUV rolls over woman's leg
On Thursday, Nov. 5, Newport Police Department officers were called to Eastport BP, located at 621 East Broadway, in Newport. Bureda Finchum, 84, of Blue Mill Road, in Del Rio, said she got out of her vehicle, a 2002 Ford SUV, and failed to put it in park. The SUV then rolled back over her right leg, knocking her to the ground and pinning her. Two witnesses - Rodney Shackleford and Shane Stellman - ran to Finchum's rescue and pushed the SUV off of Finchum, who was then taken by ambulance to the emergency room of Baptist Hospital of Cocke County, Patrolman Allen Stump reported.