Oak Ridge Today

Anderson County EMS sending ambulance, two employees to help with Hurricane Irma

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Anderson County EMS Paramedic Michael Rhinehart, left, and AEMT Justin Harmon left on Friday morning, Sept. 8, 2017, to help respond to Hurricane Irma in Florida. (Photo courtesy Nathan Sweet/Anderson County EMS)

Anderson County EMS Paramedic Michael Rhinehart, left, and AEMT Justin Harmon departed on Friday morning, Sept. 8, 2017, to help respond to Hurricane Irma in Florida. (Photo courtesy Nathan Sweet/Anderson County EMS)

 

An emergency medical services region in East Tennessee that includes Anderson County is sending a strike force of five ambulances and one command vehicle to Florida to help respond to Hurricane Irma.

The ambulances, crews, and command vehicle are from a 16-county region known as Region 2 in Tennessee, said Nathan Sweet, director of Anderson County EMS.

Anderson County EMS is sending one ambulance and two employees. The two employees are Paramedic Michael Rhinehart and AEMT Justin Harmon. (An AEMT is an advanced emergency medical technician.)

Rhinehart and Harmon left at 8:45 a.m. Friday, and they headed to Lenoir City to meet up with the strike force. From there, they are going to Chattanooga to meet up with a strike force from Region 1. It’s not clear yet where they will be deployed. [Read more…]

K9 officers from Clinton, Knox, Loudon help relocate canine officers possibly in path of Hurricane Irma

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Detective Sergeant Bob Suarez, CPD K9 trainer, and K9 handlers from Knox and Loudon County are helping Miami authorities relocate 35 K9s that are possibly in the path of Hurricane Irma. The Tennessee crew is pictured here on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, loading the dogs and getting ready to head north. This van, a bus, and a truck are being used for the transport. The K9s will be safely sheltered in Tennessee until the storm passes by. (Photo courtesy Clinton Police Department on Facebook)

Detective Sergeant Bob Suarez, CPD K9 trainer, and K9 handlers from Knox and Loudon County are helping Miami authorities relocate 35 K9s that are possibly in the path of Hurricane Irma. The Tennessee crew is pictured loading the dogs and getting ready to head north. This van, a bus, and a truck are being used for the transport. The K9s will be safely sheltered in Tennessee until the storm passes by. (Photo courtesy Clinton Police Department on Facebook)

 

A K9 trainer from the Clinton Police Department and K9 handlers from Knox and Loudon counties are helping authorities in Miami relocate 35 K9s that could be in the path of Hurricane Irma, the Clinton Police Department said this week.

CPD Detective Sergeant Bob Suarez, a K9 trainer, left for Florida on Wednesday night, the Police Department said.

A van, a bus, and a truck are being used to take the dogs north. The K9s will be safely sheltered in Tennessee, the Volunteer State, until the storm passes by, the Clinton Police Department said. [Read more…]

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department warns of scam

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The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents of a new scam where someone is misrepresenting themselves as an Anderson County Sheriff’s deputy. Calls have been made from “Deputy James Marshall” from telephone number (865) 909-7996, and this person is asking that prepaid cards be obtained to pay for fines or take care of arrest warrants, a press release said.

“Please be aware law enforcement agencies, court clerk’s offices, or other government organizations do not make calls such as this and ask for debit or prepaid card numbers,” Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said in the press release.

If Anderson County residents receive such calls, they should notify the Sheriff’s Department at (865) 457-2414 or their local police department.

Updated: Runaway juvenile located

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Kendrick Cranmore

Kendrick Cranmore

This story was updated at 7 p.m.

A juvenile reported as a runaway on Wednesday has been located, authorities said.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said Kendrick Cranmore has been located and returned to his mother.

“Our thanks to the Loudon Police Department for their assistance,” the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday evening.

A white 2004 Toyota Tacoma pickup that was taken from his mother’s home had been located early Wednesday morning in Monroe County on Orr Road near the Loudon County line, and Cranmore was believed to be in the area of Anderson, Loudon, or Monroe County, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said earlier Wednesday.

Woman escapes, pets evacuated after lightning strikes home, sparking fire

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A woman escaped and pets were evacuated after lightning struck a home on Albion Road in east Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning, Sept. 5, 2017, likely destroying the residence, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A woman escaped and pets were evacuated after lightning struck a home on Albion Road in east Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning, Sept. 5, 2017, likely destroying the residence, authorities said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A woman escaped and pets were evacuated after lightning struck a home in east Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning, sparking a fire and likely destroying the residence, authorities said.

The lightning strike was reported at 105 Albion Road at 9:39 a.m. Tuesday. The home is just north of Emory Valley Road and just west of Melton Lake Drive.

The lighting strike occurred roughly in the center of the home, and it started an attic fire that spread across the house.

The female resident was watching television and she felt it, said Gary Williamson, Oak Ridge Fire Department engineer and investigator. She got out of her chair to investigate and saw smoke coming out of outlets and vents. The woman, who was reported to be okay, went to a neighbor’s house.

Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley arrived quickly and reported that the fire was already through the roof, Williamson said. [Read more…]

Nuclear engineer receives two years in prison for violating Atomic Energy Act

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U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of Justice

KNOXVILLE—On Thursday, Szuhsiung Ho, also known as Allen Ho, 66, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan to serve 24 months in prison and one year of supervised release. Upon his release, he will be supervised by U.S. Probation for one year. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $20,000.

Ho pleaded guilty in January 2017 to conspiracy to unlawfully engage or participate in the production or development of special nuclear material outside the United States, without the required authorization from the U.S. Department of Energy, in violation of the Atomic Energy Act, a press release said.

An April 2016 indictment charged Ho; China General Nuclear Power Company (CGNPC), the largest nuclear power company in China; and Energy Technology International (ETI), a Delaware corporation, with these offenses. At the time of his indictment, Ho was a nuclear engineer, employed as a consultant by CGNPC, and he was also the owner of ETI. CGNPC specialized in the development and manufacture of nuclear reactors and was controlled by China’s State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the press release said. [Read more…]

Dave Clark the featured speaker at next Neighborhood Watch meeting

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Dave Clark

Dave Clark

The next Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program meeting will feature Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark as guest speaker, an event notice said.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, September 5, in the Oak Ridge High School Amphitheater. Everyone is invited to attend, the notice said.

Clark will talk about how the District Attorney’s Office handles cases involving Oak Ridge and Anderson County, the event notice said. He will also take questions from the audience.

“We have had several related questions at earlier meetings, so take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about how criminal cases are handled in our area,” the notice said. “If you have specific questions for General Clark, please submit them…in advance so he can prepare a response. We have a rare opportunity to talk directly to our district attorney.” [Read more…]

Man pleads guilty to attempted voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault

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Deshon Marquece Meadow

Deshon Marquece Meadow

An Oak Ridge man accused of pointing a handgun at a group of people and pulling the trigger multiple times in April 2015 pleaded guilty on Thursday to a reduced charge of attempted voluntary manslaughter and six counts of aggravated assault, according to Anderson County court records.

Deshon Marquece Meadow, 22, was pointing a handgun at a group of people, including victim Traiquan Graves, when Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Tim Nguyen responded to a report of shots fired on Utica Circle on April 6, 2015, according to affidavits filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court.

A witness said she saw Meadow point the handgun in their direction and pull the trigger multiple times, Nguyen said in the affidavits.

“The victim’s fear was evident when he backed up and took cover as the defendant tried to fire the weapon at him,” the affidavits said.

“Under Miranda, the defendant stated: ‘I couldn’t let him do me like that anymore. I went back to my house, got my gun, and pointed at them and told them to back off!'” the affidavits said. [Read more…]

Carjacking, attempted robbery, assault charges sent to grand jury

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Sheila K Jones

Sheila K. Jones

 

Attempted robbery, carjacking, and aggravated assault charges against an Oliver Springs woman were sent to a grand jury for its consideration after a preliminary hearing in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

Charges against Sheila K. Jones, 43, of Henley Circle, also include evading arrest, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and driving on a revoked license.

Jones had allegedly been a passenger in a vehicle in May when she allegedly climbed on top of the driver, Deborah G. Russell of Oliver Springs, who had said she was going home. Jones allegedly pressed Russell’s right leg down to the gas pedal and grabbed the steering wheel to prevent Russell from turning near the intersection of Tulsa Road and South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge, according to affidavits filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court on May 11.

“The victim (Russell) indicated that the defendant (Jones) started saying things such as ‘I’ll beat your ass’ and ‘I’ll blow your brains out,” the affidavits said. “After the defendant put the vehicle in park, the victim released her seatbelt, and the defendant opened and shoved the victim out of the driver’s door. The victim was still ‘hung’ in the seatbelt, until it finally came off, and the defendant shouted, ‘You made me do this!'”

At that point, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Cory Strange saw the vehicle—an older model gold vehicle that had been stopped next to an apparent pedestrian—spin its rear tires and make a hasty illegal U-turn in the middle of ORAU Way, according to the affidavits. [Read more…]

Vehicle crashes into Jackson Square businesses

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A vehicle crashed into two businesses in Jackson Square on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, causing interior and exterior damage, authorities said. (Photo by Daniel Powers)

A vehicle crashed into two businesses in Jackson Square on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, causing interior and exterior damage, authorities said. (Photo by Daniel Powers)

 

A vehicle crashed into two businesses in Jackson Square on Sunday, causing interior and exterior damage, authorities said.

The single-vehicle crash was reported at about 1:20 p.m. Sunday, August 20.

The Oak Ridge Police Department said the crash injured the driver, who was taken by ambulance to Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge for treatment.

“The extent of their injuries is unknown,” the City of Oak Ridge said in a statement Wednesday. “No other injuries were reported.”

The two damaged businesses are Through the Looking Glass and All About U Hair Salon. [Read more…]

Anderson County resident accidentally shoots brother

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An Anderson County resident accidentally shot his brother with a bullet that ricocheted inside a home on Pine Ridge Road in Marlow, authorities said.

The accidental shooting was reported on August 9. The brothers, who are adults, were interviewed at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, according to an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department incident report.

The report said the shooting occurred when one of the brothers, Dakota Mardis, was getting ready to clean a .22-caliber rifle that had been given to him and his brother, Dylan Cannon, by their parents. Mardis unloaded the rifle and then pulled the trigger, Cannon told Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Matthew P. Landis, according to the report.

“Dylan stated the rifle went off and a bullet ricocheted off a cinder block and hit him in the face near the left eye,” the report said. [Read more…]

DA: Man accused of shooting into Throttle Down convicted of reckless endangerment

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Gordon Scott Katz

Gordon Scott Katz

 

An Oak Ridge man who had been accused of shooting into the former Throttle Down Tavern while the business was occupied in July 2015 was convicted of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon after a jury trial in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on Thursday, authorities said.

A jury of 12 Anderson County residents found Gordon Scott Katz, 45, guilty after the one-day trial on Thursday and about 45 minutes of deliberation, Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark said in a press release on Friday.

Katz is scheduled to be sentenced October 9 by Anderson County Criminal Court Judge Don Elledge, Clark said.

Witnesses testified that Katz and a companion had been asked to leave the Throttle Down Tavern on Warehouse Road on July 26, 2015, before Katz was accused of firing shots into it, Clark said. [Read more…]