Oak Ridge Today

Man charged with aggravated assault after alleged shooting at Rocky Top

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Kendre K. Shields

Kendre K. Shields

A Nashville man has been charged with four counts of aggravated assault after a shot was reportedly fired into a vehicle with three adults and a five-year-old child at the Rocky Top Market on Jefferson Avenue early Sunday, authorities said.

Kendre’ K. Shields, 19, of Nashville, has also been charged with reckless endangerment, the Oak Ridge Police Department said in a city press release.

Authorities said the shooting into the occupied vehicle was reported at the Rocky Top at 20 Jefferson Avenue at about 12:15 a.m. Sunday, September 6. [Read more…]

AC Chamber, Tennova offer active shooter training for businesses

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Brandan Sharp

Brandan Sharp

The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce and Tennova Healthcare will offer active shooter training for businesses and workplaces on Tuesday, September 15. The training will be led by Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Brandan Sharp.

The training is scheduled from 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesday, September 15, at the Anderson County Chamber office in Clinton.

“An active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and other populated area,” a press release said. “In most cases, active shooters use firearms, and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly.” [Read more…]

Armed robbery, assault reported on Waddell Circle

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Oak Ridge Police Department Logo

Two men, including one suspect allegedly armed with a gun, reportedly entered a home on Waddell Circle on Thursday night, assaulted someone, and stole money and property valued at $860, authorities said.

The robbery was reported at about 10:29 p.m. Thursday, September 3, at 214 Waddell Circle. The suspects fled before Oak Ridge Police Department officers arrived, a press release said.

The ORPD asked anyone who might have information about the robbery to call (865) 425-4399. You can also TEXT-A-TIP by texting “TIP ORPD” followed by your message to 888777. If it is an emergency, dial 911. [Read more…]

No injuries, minor damage in Florida Avenue porch fire

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Florida Avenue Porch Fire

No one was injured and the damage was minor in a Thursday evening porch fire on Florida Avenue. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

No one was injured and the damage was minor in a Thursday evening porch fire on Florida Avenue.

The fire at 718 Florida Avenue was reported at about 5:35 p.m. Thursday.

Authorities said it was confined to a screened porch. Firefighters used a fire extinguisher to put it out. The cause is under investigation.

The house is an Emory Valley Center home, authorities said.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Man arrested after women’s clothing, property set on fire, neighbor assaulted

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Oak Ridge Police Department Logo

A man was arrested Thursday morning after women’s clothing and property were set on fire in a domestic dispute on Waddell Circle, and a neighbor was assaulted, authorities said.

Oak Ridge Police Department patrol officers and investigators responded to the call at 171 Waddell Circle at 7:58 a.m. Thursday, a press release said. They determined that it was a continuation of an earlier domestic call involving a male subject identified as Christopher Crandall.

“Officers discovered a large pile of personal belongings and women’s clothing belonging to the victim burning in the yard, which was extinguished by members of the Oak Ridge Fire Department,” the press release said. “Officers were unable to locate Crandall after a search of the area, as he had apparently fled the area on foot prior to police arrival.”

Two hours later, at 9:58 a.m., police officers were again summoned to the area for an assault that had taken place involving Crandall, the release said. [Read more…]

FBI describes vehicle spotted near SmartBank kidnapping, extortion

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Early 2000s Ford Taurus

An early 2000s Ford Taurus is pictured above. (Image provided by FBI)

 

Authorities have released a description of the vehicle associated with the person of interest sought in the July kidnapping and extortion at SmartBank in Knoxville, an incident that is believed to be connected to a similar one at Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge in April.

The vehicle is described as an early 2000s, powder blue/grey, Ford Taurus, with damage on the front passenger side bumper, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a Wednesday morning press release.

The person of interest was observed in the front passenger seat of this vehicle on July 1 in the vicinity of Swathmore Court and Dunwoody Drive in Knoxville.

The vehicle pictured in the photo above is of a similar make, model, and color of the vehicle that was observed, the FBI said. [Read more…]

Two arrested after alleged dirt bike theft, police car hit, authorities say

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Charles Ray Eller

Charles Ray Eller

Two men who admitted stealing a trailer and dirt bikes early Monday morning have been charged with theft and evading arrest, and the driver of the fleeing pickup truck has been charged with aggravated assault after trying to strike one Oak Ridge Police Department vehicle and backing up and hitting another, authorities said.

Police officers received the report of the trailer and dirt bike theft at about 2:45 a.m. Monday, August 31, at 208 South Illinois Avenue, an area near two hotels. The trailer and dirt bike were estimated to have a value of at least $10,000.

In arrest warrants, ORPD Officer Kyle Scott said he saw Charles R. Eller, 27, who is listed as a transient, and Joshua R. Hannifin, 29, of Oak Ridge, at that location, near a trailer that matched the given description. The trailer was attached to a black Ford F150 pickup truck, Scott said.

When Eller and Hannifin saw him, the officer said, they quickly got into the truck and fled. Scott said he chased them with his lights and sirens on. [Read more…]

ORPD Records to close early Sept. 11 for Massengill retirement ceremony

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Oak Ridge Police Department Logo

The Oak Ridge Police Department Records Bureau will close early on Friday, September 11, so the staff can attend a retirement ceremony for Deputy Chief Alan Massengill.

The Records Bureau will close at 2:45 p.m. September 11. The office will reopen on Monday, September 14, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Silver Alert canceled for missing woman

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Betty Ann Ayers

Betty Ann Ayers

The Silver Alert issued for a missing woman on Sunday afternoon was canceled after she was found safe and sound, authorities said.

Betty Ayers, 84, had last been seen at 2 p.m. Saturday in Westwood Estates in Oak Ridge, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

The ORPD said Ayers is from Auburn Hills, Michigan, and suffers from dementia.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

FBI: Even small tips could help catch extortion, kidnapping suspects

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FBI Press Conference Composite Sketches Extortion, Kidnapping

The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Knoxville on Wednesday released composite sketches of two subjects and one person of interest in alleged kidnappings and extortions involving Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge in April and SmartBank in Knoxville in July. Pictured above are FBI Knoxville Special Agent in Charge Edward Reinhold, center; Knox County Sheriff’s Office Major Michael MacLean, right; and Knoxville Police Department Deputy Chief Nate Allen. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—Two men entered two different homes in kidnappings and extortions involving Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge in April and SmartBank in Knoxville in July, and a woman, possibly with an infant or a toddler, might have entered the first, officials said Wednesday.

A blue four-door car was spotted in the area of the second home about a week before the second incident, said Edward Reinhold, special agent in charge for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Knoxville.

It’s possible there could be a fourth person involved, and it’s not clear if the suspects are still in the area.

Reinhold said both men were wearing disguises. The woman was not, but she might have been wearing a wig and sunglasses. [Read more…]

FBI releases composite sketches in kidnappings, extortions at Y-12 FCU, SmartBank

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FBI Press Conference Composite Sketches Extortion, Kidnapping

The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Knoxville on Wednesday released composite sketches of two subjects and one person of interest in alleged kidnappings and extortions involving Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge in April and SmartBank in Knoxville in July. Pictured above are FBI Knoxville Special Agent in Charge Edward Reinhold, center; Knox County Sheriff’s Office Major Michael MacLean, right; and Knoxville Police Department Deputy Chief Nate Allen. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2 p.m.

KNOXVILLE—The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday released composite sketches on two subjects and one person of interest in alleged kidnappings and extortions involving Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge in April and SmartBank in Knoxville in July.

See descriptions of the three below.

Here is the FBI press release:

[Read more…]

SUV hit by two vehicles, overturned in fatal crash on South Illinois

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South Illinois Avenue Crash on Aug. 24, 2015

The woman who died in a three-vehicle crash on South Illinois Avenue on Monday afternoon was a passenger in a Mazda sports utility vehicle that was hit by a southbound van that crossed into the northbound lanes, and the SUV was also struck by a northbound car, causing the SUV to roll, authorities said. 

 

The woman who died in a three-vehicle crash on South Illinois Avenue on Monday afternoon was a passenger in a Mazda sports utility vehicle that was hit by a southbound van that crossed into the northbound lanes, and the SUV was also struck by a northbound car, causing it to roll, authorities said.

The crash occurred at about 3:22 p.m. Monday, August 24.

The Oak Ridge Police Department determined that a Toyota van, driven by Marguerite Windham of Knoxville, was traveling south on South Illinois Avenue and crossed into the northbound lanes of travel for unknown reasons, a City of Oak Ridge press release said. [Read more…]