Oak Ridge Today

Marshals catch fugitive after pursuit, injury to deputy

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Jesse Duncan

The U.S. Marshals Service has caught a fugitive who was being pursued when an Anderson County Sheriff’s Office deputy was hit by a vehicle on Saturday night, sending the deputy to the hospital, the ACSO said.

The fugitive, Jesse Duncan, 38, was captured Tuesday night near Harriman Highway by the U.S. Marshals Service, the ACSO said.

The deputy, Stephen Carroll, has been released from the hospital, and he is “recovering nicely,” the ACSO said.

“He is grateful for all of the thoughts and prayers from everyone,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

Duncan had been pursued this weekend by Carroll and others on Tri County Boulevard in Oliver Springs when Carroll was hit by a vehicle, the ACSO said. His leg was broken, and it was repaired during surgery this week.

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New fire station, emergency operations center being built at Y-12

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A new fire station is being built at the Y-12 National Security Complex. Above, NNSA, Consolidated Nuclear Security, and Y-12 Fire Station leaders toss the first shovels of dirt for the new fire station on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. (Photo by Y-12)

A new fire station and emergency operations center are being built at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

They are pilot projects designed to streamline the efficiency and delivery of specific construction projects under $50 million, the National Nuclear Security Administration said in a press release.

The NNSA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Energy, and Y-12 managing and operating contractor Consolidated Nuclear Security had a groundbreaking ceremony for the fire station on Tuesday. A few blocks away, the emergency operations center (EOC) is already under construction.

The fire station replaces one built in 1947, and the EOC will be the home of the site’s operations center, which is currently located in a World War II-era building. “Together, these new facilities will replace two outdated buildings and enhance our emergency response capabilities,” said Gene Sievers, Y-12 site manager.

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Three displaced, no injuries in house fire

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Three adults were displaced, but no one was injured in a house fire on Jonathan Place this past weekend, firefighters said.

The Oak Ridge Fire Department was called to a structure fire on the 200 block of Jonathan Place around 9:22 p.m. Friday. Crews arrived at 9:26 p.m. and found smoke coming from the residence. The fire was under control by 9:32 p.m., a press release said.

An initial investigation showed that cause of the fire was determined to be an improperly extinguished cigarette, the press release said.

ORFD, Oak Ridge Police Department, Anderson County EMS, and American Red Cross responded to the scene.

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Shay West promoted to ORFD B Shift captain

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Shay West

Oak Ridge Firefighter Shay West has been promoted to Station 1 B Shift captain.

West began his career with the Oak Ridge Fire Department as a firefighter/engineer in January 2014, a press release said.

He takes over for Ray Burney, who was promoted to battalion chief earlier this year.

“I’d like to thank my former battalion chief, now fire marshal, Eric Rackard for all of his guidance over the past few years,” West said in the press release.

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Roane State has training exercise Wednesday

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Roane State Community College will have a training exercise on its Oak Ridge Branch Campus on Wednesday.

Law enforcement and emergency vehicles may be on campus during this time, the college said Tuesday.

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DEA Drug Take-Back Day is Saturday

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The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Drug Take-Back Day is Saturday.

As part of the event, ASAP of Anderson is partnering with police departments in Anderson County to provide the community a “safe and convenient option to properly dispose of their medicines,” a press release said. “These events help avoid accidental diversion as well as environmental concerns that some home disposal methods can cause.”

The press release said opioid overdose deaths have increased during the pandemic.

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One person flown to hospital, in critical condition after rollover crash

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The Oak Ridge Police Department was investigating a serious rollover crash on Laboratory Road near the exit from Home Depot on Tuesday evening, April 13, 2021. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was last updated at 8:40 p.m.

One person was flown by a medical helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville and is in critical condition after a rollover crash on Laboratory Road near the exit from Home Depot on Tuesday evening.

The crash involved two vehicles, a truck and a car. The truck had rolled over onto its top on the northbound side of the road north of the Home Depot exit. The car was stopped at an angle in the middle of the road at the exit.

A short section of Laboratory Road was closed for hours between Home Depot and Oak Ridge Turnpike as police investigated the crash.

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Man wanted in Ohio hides in Oak Ridge church, but K-9 finds him

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Casey J. Jones

A man who was wanted by law enforcement officers in Ohio fled and hid in an Oak Ridge church after a traffic stop Sunday morning, but an Anderson County K-9 unit found him hiding in a bathroom closet after a two-hour search, authorities said.

The pursuit began after the Oak Ridge Police Department stopped a vehicle on South Tulane Avenue at Wilson Street for a window tint violation at about 10:37 a.m. Sunday, April 11, the City of Oak Ridge said Monday.

After the initial contact with the driver, the driver fled from his vehicle on foot toward the First United Methodist Church at 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, the city said.

A police officer chased the suspect on foot and saw him enter the church, the city said.

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Governor authorizes $10,000 reward in Thomas Thrasher death investigation

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Rolling Hills Apartments Building
The Oak Ridge Police Department and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigated the death of a 29-year-old man found dead in a second-floor apartment at this Rolling Hills Apartments building in Oak Ridge on Monday, Dec. 8, 2014. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has authorized a $10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person or people responsible for killing Thomas Steven “T.S.” Thrasher in Oak Ridge on December 8, 2014, Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark said Monday.

The reward was requested by Clark.

Thrasher was found dead in his home from a gunshot wound more than six years ago. He and his family lived at 615 West Vanderbilt Drive in the Rolling Hills Apartment Complex in Oak Ridge. Thrasher’s death was investigated by the Oak Ridge Police Department and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

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Man pursued by police runs into church, taken into custody

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A man pursued by police ran into First United Methodist Church between services in Oak Ridge on Sunday morning, canceling services, according to witnesses and the church. The man was later caught, and no one was injured, the church reported.

There were reports of a large police presence at the church, including Oak Ridge Police Department and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, and the building was reportedly evacuated.

The man ran in as churchgoers were leaving the 10 a.m. service. The 11 a.m. service and Worship on the Lawn at 1 p.m. were both canceled as the building was still being searched and cleared, the church said.

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THP report: Child hit by pickup walked into travel lane

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Note: This story was updated at 2:55 p.m.

The seven-year-old girl hit by a vehicle Wednesday evening had been in the turn lane with two other pedestrians before walking into the eastbound lane of Edgemoor Road and being struck by a pickup truck, according to a preliminary report by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

No charges have been filed against the driver, and none are pending, the THP said.

The crash was reported just before 7 p.m. Monday at Mooncrest Lane. It was near the Breadbox gas station and convenience store in Claxton.

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Girl hit by vehicle on Edgemoor Road

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Note: This story was updated at 11:20 p.m.

A seven-year-old girl was hit by a vehicle on Edgemoor Road in front of the Breadbox gas station and convenience store in Claxton, and the child was taken by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, law enforcement officers said.

The crash was reported at about 6:56 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, which is investigating the collision.

The investigation continues, and no additional information is available at this time.