SHERIFF'S REPORTS:

DUI, other charges in arrest

Keith Eugene Bailey, 37, of 4142 Stansberry Road, in Morristown, was arrested today, Dec. 31, and charged with DUI, possession of Schedule VI four grams (marijuana), open container, and implied consent, Deputy Sheriff Jason Oury reported.

 

Accident on Highway 73

Mary R. Greene, 22, of Camber Drive, in Newport, was driving a 2005 Honda Accord southbound on Highway 73, at Tolley Hollow Road, on Wednesday, Dec. 30, when the vehicle's right wheels left the road and went into a ditch. The vehicle continued off Highway 73 into the ditch and then up an embankment, coming to a rest facing south, Deputy Sheriff Timothy N. Snapp reported.

 

Aggravated burglary/theft/vandalism

Barry Mantooth, 45, of Mantooth Road, in Newport, went to the Cocke County Sheriff's Department on Wednesday, Dec. 30, and reported that between 6 p.m. on Dec. 17 and 12 p.m. on the next day, someone broke into his residence and stole several items, Deputy Sheriff Brian Holt reported. Mantooth said a Mossberg Model 88, 12-gauge pump action shotgun (valued at $250), a Stihl 18-inch chain saw ($250), Craftsman battery charger ($50), and Nokia cell phone ($200), were taken.

 

Vandalism alleged

Robert Aldridge, 46, of Lewis Road, in Newport, reported vandalism at his home that occurred sometime between 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 29, and 1 a.m. on Dec. 30, Deputy Sheriff Timothy N. Snapp reported. Aldridge said rocks had been thrown towards his home and some hit the aluminum carport cover, causing some damage. Some signs were also torn down.

 

Assault alleged

Rex Carver, 47, of Wilderness Trail, said that an acquaintance of his got into an argument on Wednesday, Dec. 30, and he was struck in the jaw with a closed fist, Deputy Sheriff Steve Johnson reported.

 

Possible violation of order of protection

Amber Breann Shearer, 22, of Deerwood Road, said that on Tuesday, Dec. 29, someone came to her door and hung two bags on the door with presents, and someone keeps calling to find out where she is, Deputy Sheriff Randall Hartsell reported. Shearer said if the person is a specific acquaintance of hers, then that person has violated an order of protection Shearer has taken out.

 

Break-in/theft reported

Stephanie Bolt, 56, of Blue Creek Road, in Lenoir, N.C., said sometime between Oct. 4 and Tuesday, Dec. 29, someone broke into her home at North Grand Country Way and stole the following items: a radio/CD player (valued at $150), two baskets with clothes ($200), a dehumidifier ($300), extension ladder ($100), assorted tools ($200), chainsaw ($50), and other items, according to a report by Deputy Sheriff Timothy N. Snapp.

 

Larceny after trust

Joyce Roberts, 42, of Lark Road, in Newport, said on Sunday, Dec. 27, that an acquaintance told her of a computer for sale for $250. She said she gave him the money for the computer, but by Tuesday, Dec. 29, he had not returned with either the computer or her money, Deputy Sheriff Tony Bailey reported.

 

Break-in/theft alleged

Larry Royle, 67, of Raven Branch Road, in Hartford, said sometime between Thursday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday, Dec. 29, someone broke into his home, ransacked it, and took the following: a Craftsman air compressor ($400), assorted Craftsman tools ($500), two framing and finishing guns ($800), a 32-inch TV ($400), three packs of Elvis trading cards ($450), kitchen items and groceries ($300), and several other items, according to a report by Deputy Sheriff Timothy N. Snapp.

 

Theft/vandalism alleged

Terry W. Miller, 56, of Big Creek Road, in Hartford, said that between March 2008 and December 2009, he rented his mobile home on Big Creek Road to an individual. Miller claimed the renter damaged his home extensively and stole several items, including a case of Tree brand knives ($400), various men's clothing ($500), various Craftsman tools ($1,000), a Coleman 2 and 1/2 ton heat pump ($2,000), a couch and matching chair ($1,000), and a Craftsman pressure washer ($600), Lt. Rick Laws reported.

 

Harassment alleged

Curt Mehling, 43, of Vixon Way, in Cosby, said that on Wednesday, Dec. 30, he received a phone call from an acquaintance who allegedly said he would kill Mehling if he did not leave him alone, Deputy Sheriff Travis Webb reported. In a separate report, by Deputy Sheriff Tony Bailey, Mehling said another individual owed him money so he was holding the person's garden tiller until the person paid his bill. Mehling said the suspect took his tiller from an outbuilding at his residence sometime between Sept. 9 and Sept. 12, while Mehling was away from his residence on Vixen Way.

 

Stolen truck recovered

Sgt. Tony Whitten reported that on Tuesday, Dec. 29, a new model Chevrolet truck that had been reported stolen on Dec. 16 had been found in a chicken house. Rabbit hunters on Michael Freeman's property on Ravens Branch Road, in Hartford, first noticed the truck sitting in the chicken house. A hunter called Freeman and then 911 to report the truck. Whitten wrote that the truck tag had been removed, so he ran the VIN number on the dash and it came up as stolen by the Pigeon Forge Police Department. The switch and passenger door lock had been damaged, and the tires, wheels, and lug nuts had been taken off.

The vehicle reportedly belongs to Shirley Heath, of Pine Knot, Ky.

 

Appliances reported stolen

George Sperry, of Porterville Highway, in Abington, Va., said he was at a trailer at Luther Memorial Road, in Parrottsville, on Tuesday, Dec. 29, waiting for Green Tree to repossess the trailer. Sperry said he went in the trailer and found the washer, dryer, stove, and refrigerator had been taken from the home. There were no signs of forced entry. A witness said he saw a suspect load up the items onto the back of a truck on the Thursday before Halloween. The suspect was named. Items are valued at about $1,000, Sgt. Tony Whitten reported.

 

Aggravated burglary/theft over $1,000

Margaret ("June") King, 75, of Mary Way, in Parrottsville, said that on Sunday, Dec. 27, she discovered her home had been ransacked and burglarized. Items stolen included five jars of coins ($500), one-half gallon of pennies ($75), one-half jar with old coins ($200), a gold Bulova watch ($550), two men's red rings ($200), medicine, other jewelry, and other items, as well as damage to the front and back doors (a total of $400), Deputy Sheriff David Crowder reported.

 

Debit card fraud

Regina Jozefek, 53, of Sunway, in Newport, said that on Tuesday, Dec. 27, and the next day, someone used her credit union debit card number to make five purchases for a total of $117.39. One of the purchases was for an AARP membership ($16). The card is in her husband's name, Jozefek said, according to Deputy Sheriff Brian Holt.

 

 

 

 

POLICE REPORTS:

Several charges in arrest

Bradley Grooms, 20, of 139 Farra Way, in Newport, was arrested Wednesday, Dec. 30, and charged with possession of Schedule II in excess of .5 grams, possession of Schedule II (Oxycodone), theft under $500, and littering, according to a report by Patrolman Ricky Parton. Grooms was allegedly involved in a dispute with Chynna Usary, 20, of Shiner Run Drive, in Newport. Grooms allegedly admitted to Usary that he stole her maroon Env. 2 cell phone. Police alleged Grooms threw an ibuprofen pill bottle with four suspected crack rocks totaling approximately one gram out the window of a car he was a passenger in. Also found in the bottle were 15 Oxycodone 30 mg. pills.

 

DUI 2nd offense and other charges

Charles R. Bugg, 41, of 845 Navaho Drive, in Newport, was arrested this morning (Dec. 31), at 03:13 on Colt Boulevard and charged with DUI 2nd offense, driving on a revoked license, and financial responsibility law, Patrolman Matt Franklin reported.

 

Violation of probation charge and arrest

William L. Jones, 32, of 1021 Old Greenville Highway, in Parrottsville, was spotted on Monday, Dec. 28, at 12:10 a.m., walking on Cosby Highway, and was arrested for violation of probation, Patrolman Matt Franklin reported.

 

Vandalism over $1,000

Lisa Grice, manager of the Dollar General Store at 220 West Broadway, in Newport, said on Wednesday, Dec. 30, between 1 a.m. and 8 a.m., someone pried open a meter box and removed a sensor from the building that was connected to the heat and air system. The sensor is valued at $1,500, according to a report by Sgt. David R. Smith.

 

Prescription fraud/insurance fraud

An employee of CVS Pharmacy, at 364 Cosby Highway, in Newport, said that between Nov. 17 and Dec. 29, a suspect allegedly brought in five prescriptions: two for Opana, two for Roxicodone, and one for Presidone. After filling the prescription, an employee called the doctor mentioned on the prescriptions and discovered all five had been forged. Prescription records and a video were turned over to a detective, Patrolman Travis Gorrell reported.

 

Electricity reported stolen

Police were called to a residence on Frog Pond Alley on an alleged theft of electricity. An employee of Newport Utilities went to the residence and discovered electricity had been cut on to an abandoned residence, between Dec. 23 to Dec. 30. A named suspect allegedly admitted he turned on the electricity and agreed to pay $327.11 to Newport Utilities, which includes the cost of electricity ($27.11) and approximate cost to repair a meter ($300), Patrolman Travis Gorrell reported.

 

Property damage reported

Sharon Lynn Whittemore, 50, of 4370 Ball Hollow Road, in Cosby, said on Thursday, Dec. 24, that someone caused damage to the front passenger's side while her car was parked in the Walmart parking lot and she was inside shopping. Whittemore said she didn't notice the damage until Wednesday, Dec. 30, and was unsure who caused the damage to her vehicle's front fender, Patrolman William Garber reported. Damage is estimated at $1,000.

 

Assault alleged

Police were called to building number 200 on River Ridge Way, on a fight call. Kenneth Deen said he was walking a relative to her apartment on Wednesday, Dec. 30, when an acquaintance allegedly challenged Deen to a fight and then hit the relative in the head and began kicking her. However, the acquaintance said Deen initiated the conflict and pulled a stick back to hit her when the husband of the acquaintance came out. Officers found no weapons and noticed no injury to the relative, Patrolman Matt Franklin reported. Officers did notice a small cut on the hand of the woman that Deen said was the aggressor.

 

Accident on Underwood Way

Rusty Williams, 48, of Lehigh Drive, in Newport, said he was backing out a 1999 Nissan Frontier owned by Newport Rescue Squad, from a parking space at the Rescue Squad parking lot on Monday, Dec. 28, did not see a 1991 Toyota Frontier pickup truck, and struck the Toyota on the left front bumper area, causing moderate damage. The owner of the Toyota is Charles T. Hudson, of Highway East 25/70 in Del Rio, who went to the Newport Police Department to file a report of the incident, Sgt. David R. Smith reported.

 

Accident at Long John Silver's

Samuel J. Cureton, of Chickory Road, in Newport, said that on Wednesday, Dec. 30, he was inside Long John Silver's eating when he was told someone struck his 2010 Toyota Camry, Patrolman Travis Gorrell reported. Catherine E. Goshen, 26, of Brockton Lane, in Oak Ridge, said she was backing up a 2007 Honda Fit to let another car go by her and did not see Toyota parked behind her. Goshen's Honda allegedly struck the rear bumper of the Toyota, doing "very minor damage," Gorrell reported.

 

Accident in bank's drive-thru

Patricia A. Evans, 60, of Lower English Creek Road, in Newport, was driving a 1994 Buick Regal on Sunday, Dec. 27, at the drive-thru ATM machine at Green Bank, which is located at 602 Cosby Highway, in Newport. When Evans started to exit, she thought her vehicle was in drive, but instead it was in reverse. Evans struck a 2007 Ford Mustang driven by Terry Keller, 45, of Diamond Circle, in Newport, causing minor damage to the Mustang's front end, Patrolman Travis Gorrell reported.

 

Accident at Eastern Plaza Shopping Center

Angela Lee Rollins, 28, of Echo Valley Way, in Newport, was driving a 1996 Dodge 1500 pickup truck on Monday, Dec. 28, at 8:30 p.m., when she pulled into a parking spot at 462 Eastern Plaza Shopping Center, in Newport. Rollins said the vehicle's brakes did not work, so she crossed the sidewalk and struck the building at that address. The owner of the building said it was vacant, and estimated the damage at over $1,000. Rollins was cited because she could not show proof of insurance, Patrolman Billy Woody reported.

 

Theft under $500

Andrea Rathbone, 28, of Evans Valley Road, in Newport, said someone stole her black Pantec flip cell phone, that she left at the Newport Laundromat, at 216 West Broadway, in Newport, on Sunday, Dec. 27. She valued it at $300. Rathbone named a suspect who allegedly left the premises when told Rathbone had called the police, Patrolman Travis Gorrell reported.

 

Attempted breaking and entering

Earl Norton, 60, of Applewood Way, in Newport, said that on either Monday, Dec. 28, or the next morning, someone attempted to break into his shop. Norton said there were visible pry marks on the door lock and that the bottom lock was broken and damaged. Norton estimated the value of the lock at $50. No entry was made. A suspect was named, Patrolman Joshua Veridal reported.

 

Aggravated assault

David A. Lee, 27, of Jasmine Drive, in Newport, said that on Tuesday, Dec. 29, he was on Cosby Highway at 8:30 p.m. when he was assaulted by unknown suspects. Lee was taken to Baptist Hospital of Cocke County. Hospital staff reportedly asked Lee where the incident took place and he gave staff several different stories. Lee was later transported via Life Star to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for fractures to the left portion of his face, Patrolman Robby McMahan and Capt. James Holt reported.

 

Property damage under $500

A clerk said an unknown vehicle damaged a pump at the BP gas station, at 1004 Cosby Highway, in Newport, on Dec. 20, at 1 a.m. The cost to replace the pump's handle and nozzle was estimated at $500, Patrolman Matthew Elliott reported.

 

Theft over $500

Abbie Settle, 25, of Larmie Circle, in Newport, said on Tuesday, Dec. 29, at 5:20 p.m., after a verbal dispute with an acquaintance, she saw the acquaintance carry her TV, DVD player and computer out of her residence and place them into his vehicle. The acquaintance allegedly yelled at Settle and told her he was heading to the pawn shop to get money so he could drive back to Pennsylvania. The 36-inch Samsung flat screen TV was valued at $500, a DVD player at $35, and a custom-built computer and monitor at $200, Patrolman Heather Lawson reported.