SHERIFF'S REPORTS:

 

DUI arrest

Joe D. Laws, 68, of 1377 East Highway 25/70, in Newport, was arrested Saturday, March 6, and charged with DUI. Deputy Sheriff Brian Holt reported that Deputy Sheriff Andy Trent saw a 1982 Ford F100 pickup truck Laws was driving north on Highway 321 travel onto a curb and then back onto the road and later on Jones Circle cross over the centerline, almost striking another vehicle. Trent stopped the vehicle on Woodlawn Avenue, where Holt arrived a short time later.

 

Aggravated burglary and theft under $500

Joseph V. Collins, 20, of 502 Epley Road, in Newport, was arrested Sunday, March 7, and charged with aggravated burglary and theft under $500 after officers responded to a domestic disturbance at the residence. His mother Eva Collins said he moved out of the residence some time ago, according to a report by Deputy Sheriff C.J. Ball. Eva Collins said her son stole her father's nine shot .22 caliber pistol valued at about $350.

 

Violation of probation

Johnny Barnette, 34, of 598 Talley Road, was arrested Saturday, March 6, and charged with violation of probation, Sgt. Eric Rinehart reported.

 

Drug charges and theft under $500

David E. Fine, 37, of 524 New Cave Church Road, in Newport, was arrested Thursday, March 4, and charged with possession of Schedule VI (marijuana), possession of drug paraphernalia, and theft under $500, Deputy Sheriff Hollis Emmons reported. Officers had been dispatched to a theft in progress and reportedly found Fine with scrap metal he had stolen. The scrap metal was valued at $50.

 

Dog bites child

Chastity Stokely, 32, of 104 Lakewood Way, said her dog bit her neighbor's child on Sunday, March 7. She said that the child was playing with the dog when it big him. She said the dog had just gotten fixed and was very sensitive, and that it had its rabies and parvo shots, Deputy Sheriff Travis Webb reported.

 

Threats allegedly made

Jason Probe Clevenger, 36, of 115 New Cave Church Road, in Newport, said on Saturday, March 6, that a man, who had been living with him, moved out because he was accusing Clevenger of stealing around $150 from him. Clevenger said he did not steal anything. He said man had called him all day and made threats to him about coming to his home on Sunday, March 7, and "settling up with him," Deputy Sheriff C.J. Ball reported.

 

Vandalism/break-in reported

Scott Bowman, 36, of Warren Creek Road, in Candler, N.C., said that sometime between December 2009 and Saturday, March 6, someone broke into his old house at 1641 Allens Chapel Road, in Parrottsville, and did a lot of damage to the house, including shooting the back door master lock, two windows, and a ceiling fan. Damage to the home was estimated at about $500, and nothing was stolen, according to a report by Lt. Rick Laws.

 

Theft reported

Kelsey McMahan, 31, of 247 Epley Road, in Newport, said that on Tuesday, March 2, someone apparently cut with a bolt cutter the chain securing his 1982 dirt bike motorcycle, and stole it. The motorcycle is valued at about $550, Lt. Rick Laws reported.

 

Chevy Blazer found burned

Deputy Sheriff Travis Webb reported on Sunday, March 7, that he was dispatched to Highway 25E where he found a mid-90's S-10 Chevrolet Blazer that had been fully burned. It had no tag and the VIN plate was unreadable, Webb's report stated.

 

Shoplifter at Exxon gas station

Deputy Sheriff Jason Oury said that James D. Fowler, 31, of 3537 White Birch Road, in White Pine, admitted on Saturday, March 6, to stealing six Matador Slim Jims, a pack of Doritos chips, and an energy drink worth a total of $10.18, from the EZ Stop Foodmart Number 19 (Exxon), at 1103 Highway 25/70. Fowler was intoxicated and Oury discovered a metal spoon with white residue and black burn marks on its underside in Fowler's rear right pocket, he reported.

 

Theft over $1,000

Jason Black, 29, reported that someone stole his white, 1994 Ford F-150 that was parked at his grandmother's home on Finchum Road, on Sunday, March 7, Sgt. Eric Rhinehart reported. Black was in Virginia in the time. His grandmother said she heard the vehicle start and leave the residence. The vehicle was market oversized wheels and tires, a black brush guard on the front, and the word "Redneck" across the rear window, with a rebel flag. It is valued at $2,500.

 

Two windows in travel trailer reported shot by BB gun

James Gorman Jr., 43, of Log Church Road, in Newport, reported on Friday, March 5, that sometime during the first week of February, someone shot two windows in his travel trailer with a BB gun, causing damage estimated at $500, Deputy Sheriff David Crowder reported.

 

Theft of property reported

Stephanie Ball, 30, of Cherrybrook Way, in Newport, reported that on Tuesday, March 2, a relative at her residence asked for $20, which she gave him, and then stole $130 and some medication while she was in the shower, Deputy Sheriff C.J. Ball reported. The medication is valued at $13.68.

 

Lost, stolen wallet

Kassaundra Wilde, 20, of Good Hope Road, in Parrottsville, said she last remembered seeing her wallet when she used it at a Shell gas station in Newport, on Feb. 26, Constable Mitchell Shropshire reported. The wallet had $30 in it, and the total loss is valued at approximately $120.

 

Theft reported

Mary Ann Keller, 24, of Harper Circle, said she left a laptop computer and other items at the home of an acquaintance and when she asked for them back, the acquaintance allegedly first stated they were at a relative's home, and then said they had been stolen, Deputy Sheriff Randall Hartsell reported. The items include a Dell laptop (worth $900), a box of checks ($18.50), a black laptop case ($50), an Internet card ($60), four CD-ROM's for the computer ($40), adoption papers ($27), and a computer mouse ($20).

 

POLICE REPORTS

 

Death reported

Mike Jones, 42, of 586 Banjo Way, in Newport, was confirmed dead by EMS personnel on Friday, March 5, according to Newport Police Department officers who arrived at 269 Suncrest Way at approximately 12:53 a.m., after receiving a call of an unresponsive male. Jones was found dead in the back seat of a 2004 Chevrolet SS, Patrolman Robby McMahan reported. Ashley Samples, of 269 Suncrest Way, said she spoke with Jones at about 11:53 p.m. on Thursday, and later went back to check on him and he was unresponsive. Officers got statements from individuals at the scene. The incident was turned over to on-call Det. Donna Hopkins. The vehicle was put on hold for Det. Hopkins after eight grams of marijuana and rolling papers were found in the trunk of the vehicle.

 

Hit and run

James Owens, 23, of Lamp Way, in Newport, told police that on Wednesday, March 3, at about 11:30 a.m., he was traveling south on Lincoln Avenue, when a blue mini-van pulled out from 8th Street and struck his vehicle. Owens told Patrolman Heather Lawson he swerved across the yellow line to avoid being struck, but that the vehicle's front bumper caught the 2003 Honda Accord Owens was in, on the passenger side, and caused damage to the front and back doors. Owens said he pulled over onto 9th Street after the vehicle struck him, but that the other vehicle continued to travel north on Lincoln Avenue. The other vehicle was reported to be a 2005 Dodge Caravan owned by Jesse L. Ketner, of 7th Street. Owens estimated the damage to the Honda Accord is $500.

 

Drug charges in arrest

Jacob C. Owens, 18, of 2540 Highway 160, in Newport, was arrested this morning, at about 1:30 a.m., and charged with simple possession (of marijuana), and drug paraphernalia, Patrolman Robby McMahan reported. McMahan said he waved down the 1993 Nissan Owens was driving, which had its side door wide open while the vehicle was in motion.

 

Light law and driving on revoked license 2nd offense

Lena M. McMahan, 50, of 927 Meadow Way, in Newport, was arrested this morning at 3:40 a.m., after police observed her driving on West Highway 25/70 with no headlights on, Patrolman Matthew Elliott reported.

 

Theft from a vehicle

Jennifer Louise Cash, 25, of Thompson Street, in Newport, reported that sometime in the morning of Friday, March 5, someone got into her 2002 Chevrolet Tracker and stole 20 CD's and a CD visor case with a total value of $300, Patrolman Thomas Whitfield reported.

 

Theft under $500

Albert Walker, 69, of Driskill Circle, in Newport, reported that sometime between Feb. 19 and Friday, March 5, someone stole a 9 mm Ruger P95 handgun from his home. The handgun is valued at $200, Patrolman Joshua Veridal reported.

 

Accident at National Bank of Tennessee

Walter Freeman, 65, of Old Greeneville Highway, in Parrottsville, said that on Monday, March 8, while in his 2004 Dodge Durango at National Bank of Tennessee's drive-thru, at 262 East Broadway, Freddie Laws, 43, of Lower English Creek Road, in Newport, attempted to back up his 2004 Ford F150 truck and accidentally collided with Freeman's Dodge in the rear passenger side, Sgt. Jason Smith reported.

 

Fraudulent use of a debit card/theft under $500

Jacquelyn Campbell Lux, 56, of Pepper Way, in Cosby, said someone withdrew from a Green Bank ATM machine several withdrawals of cash from her account without her permission. The amounts withdrawn, plus $2.50 in service charges, total $472.50, withdrawn between 9 p.m. on Friday, March 5, and just before 1 a.m. on Saturday, March 6. Lux said she did not lose her debit card - that she still possesses it - and that she does not believe anyone in her residence took the card and used it without her knowledge or permission, Patrolman Heather Lawson reported. Lux said she would prosecute the offender(s) involved.

 

Violation of no contact order

Justin Matthew Brown, 26, of Cosby Highway, in Newport, said an acquaintance he has a no contact order with, knocked on the door to a room at the Mountain Crest Inn he was staying in, on Sunday, March 7, at about 7:30 p.m., and asked to stay with him in his room, Patrolman Joshua Veridal reported. Officers found there was a no contact order in place for both individuals to not contact each other. Brown was advised of how to obtain an order of protection.

 

Phone harassment alleged

Frankie Fraley, 40, of Driskell Circle, in Newport, said an acquaintance called her on her phone on Sunday, March 7, and started cussing her. When Fraley refused to answer the phone, the acquaintance allegedly sent her threatening text messages, Capt. Scott Lamb reported. Lamb wrote that he advised Fraley of her rights in order to obtain a criminal summons/warrant.

 

Accident on Highway 321

Capt. James Holt reported on Sunday, March 7, that police went to the parking lot of Town and Country Drug Store on Cosby Highway on Feb. 26, in response to an accident. Judy Cleghorn, 58, of Hilmeade Drive, in Nashville, said another vehicle driven by Stephanie Powell, 18, of Dunn Cemetery Road, in Newport, hit her 2008 Hyundai in the rear end. Cleghorn said she got the necessary information from Powell and let her leave in a 2000 Ford truck owned by Dustin Kear of Joe Reed Road, in Bybee. Powell allegedly told Holt she did not have any insurance on the truck.

 

Burglary/vandalism over $1,000

Jabo Francis, 65, of East Broadway, in Newport, said that this morning (Tuesday, March 9), at about 2:10 a.m., said she heard a loud noise which woke her up. She said a few seconds later she heard the front door glass shatter, and she called police. Francis owns the apartment complex at 105 Lincoln Ave., but did not see anyone. Damages are estimated as follows: front door glass, $1,500, and door handles and locks, $300, Patrolman Matthew Elliott reported.

 

Runaway juvenile/unauthorized use of vehicle

The mother of a 15-year-old, who live on Lennon Circle, in Newport, said 

Her son left her home in a 1993 Ford, at about 2 a.m., this morning (Tuesday, March 8) and was later found with the vehicle that apparently broke down in Knoxville on the interstate. The mother said she believed her son was going to see his girlfriend who had moved to Maryville. The vehicle belonged to a friend of the family who said she did not give the teen permission to drive the vehicle, but did not want to press charges, Sgt. Jason Smith reported.

 

Theft over $1,000

Michael O'Kelley II, 26, of Green Valley Road, in Seven Valleys, Pa., said that this morning (Tuesday, March 8), at around 4:40 a.m., friends dropped him off at the Quick Stop gas station on West Broadway, in Newport, so he could use the restroom, and then his friends drove off and left him there. He said the following personal belongings were in the pink/purple Nissan Altima that his friends were in: a large green bag of clothing and shoes (with a value of $4,475), 226 pills, a black duffle bag with clothing ($400), 100 CD's ($200), five brand-name hats ($125), a cell phone ($50), and a brown Echo jacket ($125), Patrolman Joshua Veridal reported. Total value of items taken is $5,680.

 

Theft over $500

Stanley Cutshall, 46, of Rhea Street, in Newport, named an acquaintance he said entered his home on Friday, March 5, and stole a camera, a Kodak Easy Share with a value of $565, and a Kodak high-speed 2gb card ($35), for a total value of $600, Patrolman Heather Lawson reported.

 

Counterfeit money

Theresa Ramsey, said Tammie B. Miller came into the Phillips 66 store she works at, located at 985 West Highway 25/70, and tried to pass a counterfeit $10 bill. Miller, who was still at the store when police arrived, said she received the bill as change from a gas station in Dandridge, and did not realize it was counterfeit. Ramsey said Miller paid for her purchase with a legitimate bill after she was informed the other one was counterfeit, Patrolman Heather Lawson reported.

 

Theft of property over $500

Stephanie Turner, of Rice Street, in Newport, said a Motorola Q Smart phone she had with her at the Dollar Tree store in Newport, which is owned by Scott McMahan, 21, on Monday, March 8, was stolen when she had it on top of her pocketbook in her shopping cart she said she walked away from for a moment, Capt. Ronnie Landers reported. She said she saw no one around the cart and nothing else was taken.

 

$350 in cash reported stolen from Dairy Queen

Rebecca Ridgeway, an employee at Dairy Queen, at 365 West Broadway, in Newport, said that on Saturday, March 6, she walked away from the cash register at the drive-thru window to do some cleaning. She said she looked over at the drive-thru window a few minutes later and saw a white male standing at the window take off running towards Old Knoxville Highway. The owner of the Dairy Queen, Irfan Momin, of River View Street, in Newport, said he counted the money in the register and found $350 had been stolen from it. Another employee at the time of the theft said he did not see anything, Patrolman Amy Elswick reported.

 

Hindering a secured creditor

Harold Grooms, of 4-Star Auto Sales, at 427 Cosby Highway, in Newport, said several attempt to repossess a 1996 Jeep had failed. He said the person financed had taken the Jeep to Kentucky in an attempt to keep the vehicle from the lien holder listed on the vehicle title. The last payment by the person financed for the vehicle was Dec. 15. Grooms said she was behind 21 payments of $50 per week on the vehicle, Det. Lynn Shults reported.

 

Phone harassment

Sophia Mendolera, of Alex Street, in Newport, said an acquaintance had texted her and left 50 messages or obscene gestures on her cell phone throughout the night of Friday, March 5, Patrolman Travis Gorrell reported.

 

Vandalism under $500

Tammy Turner, 32, of Northside Street, in Newport, said a window at the front of her residence was vandalized on Saturday, March 6. She told Capt. Scott Lamb she returned home from work and found the window half open, and then noticed the lock had been damaged, as well as the area around the window. She said apparently no one entered her home. Damage is valued at $180.

 

Dispute of vehicle ownership

Linda Belles, 36, of Seahorn Drive, in Newport, said she had paid Josh Walton $400 for a 1991 Ford Explorer, but not gotten a receipt. Walton's name was signed on the back of the title that Belles had. Walton told Capt. Ronnie Landers he had received no payment for the vehicle from Belles. The title was in the name of Amber Taylor, and not to Walton or Belles. The vehicle had not been registered and no license plate was on it. Both parties were advised to take the matter to civil court.

 

Violation of order of protection

Denea Cates, 32, of Lookout Drive, in Newport, said someone she has an active order of protection against had been calling her and threatening her. Police were present when the person apparently called and threatened her, said he was not afraid of the police, and that someone was going to get hurt, Patrolman Allen Stump reported.

 

Phone harassment alleged

Chelle Keller, 38, of Graystone Way, in Newport, said recently she had been getting unwanted phone calls at work from an acquaintance, Patrolman Robby McMahan reported.