Oak Ridge Today

No major problems reported after snow Friday; Key Springs Road temporarily closed

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Edgemoor-Road-On-Ramp-Feb-12-2016

The Edgemoor Road exit ramp off South Illinois Avenue is pictured above after snow fell on Friday morning, Feb. 12, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Authorities reported no major problems when snow fell in Oak Ridge and Anderson County on Friday morning, although some area school districts closed.

Key Springs Road in north Oak Ridge was temporarily closed at the request of the Oak Ridge Police Department after a tractor-trailer got stuck coming up the steep, curvy road.

It wasn’t necessarily weather-related, and it wasn’t clear how long the road would be closed, said Pat Fallon, Oak Ridge Public Works division manager.

Four trucks with snow plows were out clearing roads and spreading salt. No problems had been reported for at least an hour, Fallon said at about noon Friday. [Read more…]

Man pleads guilty to murder-, robbery-related charges in drug deal that ended in death

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Bronx Washington

Bronx Washington

An Oak Ridge man has pleaded guilty to murder- and robbery-related charges in what police described as a marijuana deal that ended with one man dead.

Bronx Shavon Washington, who is now 22, pleaded guilty in Anderson County Criminal Court on Monday. He entered the guilty pleas on a reduced charge of facilitation to commit second-degree murder, a Class B felony, and a reduced charge of facilitation to commit aggravated robbery, a Class C felony. Washington received a total 14-year sentence on those two charges as well as a drug possession charge. He was the last of three defendants to plead guilty in the case.

Washington and two brothers, Brandon Javon Brooms, now 25, and James Stefan Brooms, now 27, had each been indicted in March 2012 on charges of first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery in the death of Antonio “Tony” Phillips, 22. [Read more…]

No one injured when fire starts in bed of commercial landscaping truck

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Oak Ridge Fire DepartmentNo one was injured when the Oak Ridge Fire Department extinguished a fire in the bed of a commercial landscaping truck on Melton Lake Drive on Monday morning, authorities said.

The truck fire was reported at about 8:30 a.m. Monday on Melton Lake Drive near Rivers Run Drive. The Oak Ridge Fire Department and Oak Ridge Police Department both responded.

The truck belonged to Eastwood Landscaping of Knoxville.

Melton Lake Drive was closed from 8:30 a.m. until just after 11 a.m. due to the fire, a press release said. The exact cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

TBI investigation of Oak Ridge apartment death still open, ongoing

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Thomas Stephen "T.S." Thrasher

Thomas Stephen “T.S.” Thrasher

The investigation of the death of an Oak Ridge man in an apartment in December 2014 remains open and ongoing, a state official said Monday.

Thomas Steven Thrasher Jr., 29, also known as “T.S.,” died December 8, 2014. He was found dead in a second-floor apartment when the Oak Ridge Police Department responded to a report of a possible intruder at about 4:40 a.m. that Monday at 615 West Vanderbilt Drive.

Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark said that month that a criminal investigation was under way, but there had not been an arrest and no charges had been filed. Clark said at the time that an autopsy had been performed by the Anderson County medical examiner.

“As a result of the circumstances, the Oak Ridge Police and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have been conducting a criminal investigation,” Clark said. “There has been no arrest or charges filed at this time.” [Read more…]

ORHS teacher suspended while police investigate info reported to schools

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An Oak Ridge High School teacher has been suspended from all teaching duties without pay while information reported to Oak Ridge Schools is investigated by the Oak Ridge Police Department, an official said Friday.

Officials have not identified the teacher.

“If the teacher is vindicated or reinstated following the investigation, the teacher shall be paid full salary for the period of the suspension,” Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers said in a brief statement issued in response to questions from reporters. [Read more…]

Warrants: Man who crashed into Dunkin’ Donuts told police he had several drinks, beer

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Matthew-Ketron

Matthew Ketron

The Knoxville man who crashed a Volkswagen Beetle into Dunkin’ Donuts on Wednesday told Oak Ridge police he had consumed several mixed liquor drinks as well as beer before driving, according to court records.

Matthew Chance Ketron, 32, had a strong odor like that of an alcoholic beverage “coming from his person,” as well as glassy bloodshot eyes, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer John Torrence said in arrest warrants filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court. Ketron’s speech was also slow and staggered, Torrence said.

Ketron told police that he had been on his way to a staff meeting at Jet’s Pizza, according to the warrants. Jet’s is located next to Dunkin’ Donuts in a small shopping center on Oak Ridge Turnpike.

But when he arrived, Ketron said, there was no meeting, so he attempted to leave, the warrants said. However, when he rounded the east side of the building, Ketron said he lost control of his yellow 2000 VW Beetle and crashed into the building. [Read more…]

Man facing charges after crashing VW into Dunkin’ Donuts

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VW-Beetle-Dunkin-Donuts-Feb-3-2016

A man is facing charges after crashing a Volkswagen Beetle into the side of Dunkin’ Donuts in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, authorities said. Pictured above are members of the Oak Ridge Fire Department and Oak Ridge Community Development. The drive-through window is to the left of the VW. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 6 p.m. Feb. 4.

A man is facing charges after crashing a Volkswagen Beetle into the side of Dunkin’ Donuts in Oak Ridge on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

Officers charged the man, Matthew Ketron, 32, of Knoxville, with two counts of reckless endangerment and driving under the influence, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

The crash was reported at about 2:50 p.m. Wednesday. At least five people were inside Dunkin’ Donuts at the time, the ORPD said. Two customers were treated for injuries and released at the scene. Officers said the building, which is in a small shopping center on Oak Ridge Turnpike, was heavily damaged.

The yellow 2000 Volkswagen Beetle crashed into a side wall, between the drive-through window and the glass at the front of Dunkin’ Donuts. But it’s not clear whether the driver had stopped at the drive-through. [Read more…]

Police identify drivers in fatal car-motorcycle crash

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The Oak Ridge Police Department has identified the two drivers in a fatal car-motorcycle crash on North Illinois Avenue on Sunday evening.

The motorcycle was operated by Rufus E. Shephard III, 44, of Oak Ridge, authorities said. The car was driven by Noelle L. Patty, 29, also of Oak Ridge.

The Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle was northbound on North Illinois Avenue when it collided with the car, a Cadillac STS, at the western entrance to the Westcott Center, the Kroger shopping center, at about 5:40 p.m. Sunday, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.

Shephard died from his injuries, the release said. [Read more…]

Police: Motorcyclist dies in two-vehicle crash on North Illinois Avenue

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Authorities said a motorcyclist died in a collision with a car on North Illinois Avenue at the western entrance to the Kroger shopping center at about 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016. Above, the Oak Ridge Police Department and Clinton Police Department reconstruct the crash. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:23 p.m.

A motorcyclist died in a collision with a car on North Illinois Avenue on Sunday evening, authorities said.

The collision between a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle and Cadillac STS four-door sedan was reported at about 6 p.m. Sunday, Oak Ridge Police Department Deputy Chief Robin Smith said.

Smith said he didn’t immediately have details on whether the driver of the car was injured.

The crash occurred on North Illinois Avenue between Oak Ridge Turnpike and Ivanhoe Road, at the western entrance to Westcott Center, the Kroger shopping center.
[Read more…]

North Illinois closed near Kroger as police investigate car-motorcycle crash

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North-Illinois-Avenue-Crash-Reconstruction-Kelly-Smith-Jan-31-2016

Oak Ridge Police Department Lt. John Kelly, left, and Clinton Police Department Officer Max Smith reconstruct a car-motorcycle crash on North Illinois Avenue at the western entrance to Kroger on Sunday evening, Jan. 31, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11 p.m.

A short stretch of North Illinois Avenue is closed north of Oak Ridge Turnpike, at the western entrance to Kroger, as police investigate a Sunday evening crash between a car and a motorcycle.

The closure was reported at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday. The closure affects both the northbound and southbound lanes between Oak Ridge Turnpike and Ivanhoe Road.

The crash involved a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle and a Cadillac STS four-door sedan. [Read more…]

Second suspect in bank extortion, carjacking plots also pleads not guilty

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Michael Benanti

Michael Benanti

KNOXVILLE—A second suspect has also pleaded not guilty to three alleged bank extortion and carjacking plots that involved bank employees and their family members, including at Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge.

One of the suspects, Brian Witham, pleaded not guilty during an arraignment in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on Tuesday.

The second suspect, Michael Benanti, pleaded not guilty during a Friday afternoon arraignment.

Each man is facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 142 years in prison, if they are convicted on all 15 federal charges that they face. The charges include bank extortion, attempted bank extortion, carjacking, and brandishing a firearm while committing a crime. [Read more…]

Suspect in bank extortion, carjacking plots could face mandatory minimum of 142 years in prison

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Oak Ridge Police Department at Y-12 Federal Credit Union

The Oak Ridge Police Department responded to a kidnapping and attempted robbery at the Y-12 Federal Credit Union on Lafayette Drive in Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning, April 28, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4:10 p.m.

KNOXVILLE—One of the two suspects in three alleged bank extortion and carjacking plots that involved bank employees and their family members, including at Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge, is facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 142 years in prison, if he is convicted on all 15 charges that he faces, a federal prosecutor said Tuesday.

Brian Witham pleaded not guilty to the 15 charges—which include bank extortion, attempted bank extortion, carjacking, and brandishing a firearm while committing a crime—during a 20-minute arraignment and initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on Tuesday afternoon.

Brian Witham

Brian Witham (Photo courtesy WATE-TV in Knoxville)

A trial has been set for March 29.

Witham’s alleged co-conspirator, Michael Benanti, has an initial appearance and arraignment scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday.

The two were indicted by a federal grand jury on December 15 for plots that involved kidnapping family members and robbing or attempting to rob three banks and credit unions in Oak Ridge, Knoxville, and Elizabethton, Tennessee. Benanti, 43, is from Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania, and Witham, 45, is from Waterville, Maine. [Read more…]