Oak Ridge Today

Taco Bell temporarily closed after truck crashes into building

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A landscaping truck crashed into the Taco Bell on South Illinois Avenue on Tuesday afternoon, March 22, 2016. (Photo by Oak Ridge Police Department)

 

Note: This story was updated at 5:48 p.m.

The Taco Bell on South Illinois Avenue is temporarily closed after a landscaping truck crashed into the building on Tuesday afternoon.

The crash was reported at about 2:10 p.m. Tuesday at 353 South Illinois Avenue. The Oak Ridge Police Department and Oak Ridge Fire Department both responded.

An Eastwood Landscaping truck crashed into the front of the building, a press release said. The driver of the vehicle was Joshua Tice, 25, of Knoxville. The cause of the crash was determined to be driver error, and no charges are being filed. [Read more…]

Warrants: Man charged with attempted murder threatened to kill fetus, pregnant teen girlfriend

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Khristoff Deshawn Lee

The Oak Ridge man who was charged with attempted first-degree murder on March 1 allegedly threatened to kill his pregnant teenage girlfriend and her fetus, and repeatedly punched her in the stomach, head, and back, authorities said.

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Kristoff D Lee

Khristoff Deshawn Lee

The Oak Ridge man who was charged with attempted first-degree murder on March 1 allegedly threatened to kill his pregnant teenage girlfriend and her fetus, and repeatedly punched her in the stomach, head, and back, authorities said.

Khristoff Deshawn Lee

The Oak Ridge man who was charged with attempted first-degree murder on March 1 allegedly threatened to kill his pregnant teenage girlfriend and her fetus, and repeatedly punched her in the stomach, head, and back, authorities said.

The rest of this story is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or contributor to Oak Ridge Today.

Already a member? Great! Thank you! Sign in here.

Not a member? No problem! Subscribe here:

Basic

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Temporary

If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to:

Oak Ridge Today
P.O. Box 6064
Oak Ridge, TN 37831

We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here.

We also accept donations. You can donate here. A donation of $50 or more will make you eligible for a subscription.

Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support!

Two men arrested on robbery charges; one also wanted for attempted murder, ORPD says

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Two men wanted on robbery charges were taken into custody by the Oak Ridge Police Department SWAT and Patrol at 442 East Tennessee Avenue on Sunday, March 20, 2016, without incident after a tip. (Photo by ORPD via Twitter)

  Note: This story was last updated at 1:37 p.m. Two men wanted on robbery charges were arrested after officers from the Oak Ridge Police Department entered a home on East Tennessee Avenue on Sunday evening, authorities said. One of the men was also wanted on charges that include attempted first-degree murder, statutory rape, and aggravated assault, the ORPD said. The Oak Ridge Police Department said it learned at about 4 p.m. Sunday that brothers Joseph Garner Lee and Khristoff Deshawn Lee were at 442 East Tennessee Avenue.
Kristoff D Lee

Khristoff D. Lee

Khristoff Deshawn Lee, 22, had multiple warrants for his arrest for charges of assault, attempted murder (first-degree), statutory rape, aggravated assault, and robbery, and Joseph Garner Lee, 26, had a warrant for his arrest for a robbery charge, the ORPD said. ORPD Special Projects Unit and Patrol Division personnel verified that Joseph Garner Lee was present at the home, a press release said. “Due to the nature of the charges and previous contacts with both individuals, at approximately 7:30 p.m., ORPD tactical officers entered the residence and arrested both individuals without incident,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Comfort Inn closed for few days after fire on Saturday

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The Comfort Inn in Oak Ridge will be closed for a few days for renovations after a fire on the fourth floor early Saturday, March 19, 2016, officials said. (Photo by Tom Scott)

 

The Comfort Inn in Oak Ridge will be closed for a few days for renovations after a fire on the fourth floor of the five-story hotel early Saturday, officials said.

The fire was reported at 5:15 a.m. Saturday in an air-conditioning unit in a window area at the end of the hallway on the fourth floor.

The 112-room hotel was more than 90 percent occupied with rowers from Oak Ridge Marina and off-road-vehicle riders from Windrock Park north of Oliver Springs, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Fire Department said the hotel’s sprinkler system turned on automatically and helped keep the fire under control, which likely saved lives and property.

“There’s no doubt the sprinkler system helped keep the fire from getting any larger,” Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley said. [Read more…]

Knoxville man dies in motorcycle crash on Old Emory in Claxton

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A Knoxville man died after he lost control of his motorcycle, struck a guardrail, and landed down an embankment on Old Emory Road in Claxton on Saturday afternoon, authorities said. The Tennessee Highway Patrol investigated the crash, which was reported at the intersection with Walnut Valley Road on Saturday afternoon, March 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLAXTON—A Knoxville man died after he lost control of a motorcycle, struck a guardrail, and landed down an embankment on Old Emory Road in Claxton on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

The single-vehicle crash was reported at about 2:21 p.m. Saturday at the intersection with Walnut Valley Road, just north of Bull Run Fossil Plant.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol said Peter Bolen, 52, was driving south on a 2005 Suzuki motorcycle when he lost control going around a curve and hit the guardrail. The motorcycle crossed the road and stopped in a ditch on the opposite side of the road. [Read more…]

THP investigating motorcycle crash on Old Emory Road in Claxton

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The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating a motorcycle crash that was reported on Old Emory Road on Saturday afternoon, March 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 7:22 p.m.

CLAXTON—The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating a motorcycle crash reported on Old Emory Road in Claxton on Saturday afternoon.

The crash was reported at about 2:21 p.m. Saturday on Old Emory Road at Walnut Valley Road, just north of the Bull Run Fossil Plant.

Old Emory Road is closed at Walnut Valley Road while the THP investigates.

Besides the THP, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Claxton Fire Department, Anderson County Rescue Squad, and Anderson County Emergency Medical Services also responded.

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No one injured, no homes damaged in brush fire on Foley Hill north of Clinton

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No one was injured and no homes were damaged during a brush fire on Foley Hill north of Clinton on Thursday, March 17, 2016. Above, resident Albert Look, who lives on Jarnigan Chapel Road, fights the fire with a garden hose until the Medford Fire Department arrives. (Photo by Caren Look)

 

CLINTON—No one was injured and no homes were damaged during a brush fire on Foley Hill north of Clinton on Thursday.

The fire was 1.5 acres, and it was started by an “escaped debris fire,” the Tennessee Division of Forestry said. A warning was issued, officials said.

Residents who live off Jarnigan Chapel Road on the top of the hill said it started at the bottom of the hill, and the wind blew it up through the woods.

“It was horrifying,” said J.T. Taylor, who lives near the top of the hill. He said flames about 10 feet high came within 20 feet of his home. [Read more…]

Woman taken into custody after barricading herself in home, throwing pistol out window

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Members of the Oak Ridge Police Department are pictured outside a home on East Tennessee Avenue on Saturday, March 19, 2016.

 

Note: This story was updated at 10:42 a.m.

A 30-year-old woman was taken into custody and to a hospital after barricading herself in a bedroom and mentioning suicide before throwing a pistol out a window while negotiating with police officers on Saturday morning, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department was on the scene for hours before the situation at 426 East Tennessee Avenue was peacefully resolved.

Police said they found an arsenal inside the home, including more than a dozen high-powered rifles, shotguns, an assault rifle, a pistol, and several boxes of ammunition.

The ORPD responded to a domestic disturbance call at the home at about 2:04 a.m. Saturday.

“Officers arrived and made contact with a male subject, who advised his girlfriend, who was very intoxicated, had locked herself in the bedroom and was in possession of multiple weapons,” an ORPD press release said. “Officers verified a female subject identified as Sara Flynt, 30, was barricaded in an upstairs bedroom of the residence and initiated negotiations utilizing ORPD Crisis Intervention Team members. [Read more…]

Three injured in two crashes on Oliver Springs Highway on Thursday

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Three people were injured in two crashes on Oliver Springs Highway in Marlow on Thursday. One vehicle overturned in the first crash, which occurred overnight, and two vehicles came close to going into a pond into the second, which happened Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Steve Newby)

 

MARLOW—Three people were injured in two crashes on Oliver Springs Highway in Marlow on Thursday.

One vehicle overturned in the first crash, which occurred overnight, and two vehicles came close to going into a pond into the second, which happened Thursday afternoon.

The first crash was reported at about 12:13 a.m. Thursday. Bobbie Lane, 47, of Clinton, was driving west in a 1999 Toyota 4Runner on Highway 61, also known as Oliver Springs Highway, when she failed to maintain control and went off the right side of the road, went over a curb, and hit a tree, which caused the vehicle to overturn, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said.

Lane was injured, the THP said. She was not wearing a seatbelt, authorities said. [Read more…]

Sheriff’s Department helps capture two felons who escaped from Kentucky

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Escapee Pursuit

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department on Monday helped capture two felons who had escaped from Kentucky after stealing a truck and fleeing from a work detail, authorities said. (Photo by ACSD)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:38 p.m.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department on Monday helped capture two felons who had escaped from Kentucky after stealing a truck and fleeing from a work detail, authorities said.

The two escaped felons were captured Monday afternoon, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said. They had allegedly stolen a truck and fled from a work detail in Whitley County, Kentucky.

Justin Jerald Jaynes

Justin Jerald Jaynes

Kentucky authorities sent out an alert, and the truck was spotted later in Campbell County, Tennessee. Jacksboro and Caryville police departments along with the Eighth Judicial Drug Task Force began a pursuit that traveled south on Interstate 75, Lucas said.

He said the two escapees exited at Rocky Top and came down Lake City Highway into Clinton. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge woman charged with murder in death of infant daughter in Knoxville

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Heather-Renee-Keylon

Heather Renee Keylon

Note: This story was last updated at 1 p.m.

A woman listed as an Oak Ridge resident was arrested Saturday on murder and child abuse charges for the death of her three-month-old daughter due to a drug overdose in Knoxville in April 2015, authorities said.

Heather Renee Keylon, 31, of 134 Waddell Circle in Oak Ridge, is facing charges of felony murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated child neglect, the Knoxville Police Department said. She was arrested Saturday and taken to the Knox County jail, where her bond has been set at $1 million.

Police responded to an unresponsive infant call at 3534 Old Valley View Drive, Apartment Number 12, in north Knoxville at about 12:39 p.m. April 21, 2015.

Keylon told police that her infant daughter, Skylar Brewer, had stopped breathing, the KPD said. The child had gone to sleep on the sofa, Keylon said, but she realized a short time later that Skylar wasn’t breathing and she called 911, authorities said. [Read more…]

Man injured, facing charges after pursuit ends with crash into power pole

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A 32-year-old man was injured and is facing a half-dozen charges after he allegedly went off State Route 62 in a pickup truck while fleeing from Morgan County officials early Sunday, struck a utility pole and broke it in half, and then traveled down an embankment and rolled over in a ditch, authorities said. (Photo by Tom Scott)

 

Note: This story was updated at 8:50 p.m.

OLIVER SPRINGS—A 32-year-old man was injured and is facing a half-dozen charges after he allegedly went off State Route 62 in a pickup truck while fleeing from Morgan County officials early Sunday, struck a utility pole and broke it in half, and then traveled down an embankment, where the vehicle he was driving rolled over onto its top in a ditch, authorities said.

Travis Lyles, 32, of Oliver Springs, was driving east on SR 62 in a 2004 Ford F-250 when his pickup truck went off the westbound side of the road at about 12:35 a.m. Sunday, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said. The crash occurred while Lyles was evading arrest and being pursued by the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, which was trying to stop him for speeding and swerving on the roadway, the THP said.

The crash occurred in the Morgan County portion of Oliver Springs on Winter Gap Road near Lookout Avenue. [Read more…]