Oak Ridge Today

Man, 27, accused of attacking, robbing grandfather, 81

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Trenton-Johnson

Trenton Johnson

The day after he was found unresponsive in a bathroom, with a syringe on the floor and suspected heroin in his jacket pocket, a 27-year-old Oak Ridge man allegedly attacked his 81-year-old grandfather, pushed him down, and stole his wallet, authorities said.

Trenton Johnson of Briarwood Drive was found on his back and unresponsive on a bathroom floor, lying between a toilet and bathtub, at the Briarwood Drive home on Saturday, December 19, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Kevin M. Merritt said.

A syringe was on the floor next to Johnson, Merritt said. On the edge of the bathtub, there was a pack of cigarettes, lighter, and metal spoon, the officer said. [Read more…]

Sergeant who helped boy battling cancer chosen as CPD Officer of the Year

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Clinton Police Chief Rick Scarbrough, right, is pictured above with Sergeant Jason Stokes, the Clinton Police Department’s Officer of the Year for 2015. (Submitted photo)

 

A police sergeant who developed a friendship with a 10-year-old boy battling cancer has been named Officer of the Year by the Clinton Police Department.

Clinton Police Chief Rick Scarbrough said his memory of Joseph Dillman, a 10-year-old South Clinton Elementary student who passed away following a courageous battle with cancer, played a big part in choosing Sergeant Jason Stokes, this year’s CPD Officer of the Year.

“To select only one officer for our officer of the year is a challenge,” Scarbrough said in a press release. “We have a tremendous team and have many examples of the qualities required to receive the award. However, this year our department and community, were able to come together for young Joseph Dillman. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Fire Department announces promotions, new firefighters

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Jody Durham

Jody Durham

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The Oak Ridge Fire Department recently held a ceremony to promote three officers and to introduce four new firefighters and their families to the organization. Congratulations to these recently promoted officers and new firefighters.

Jody Durham was promoted from battalion chief to assistant chief of operations. He has been with Oak Ridge Fire Department for more than 10 years. Durham has experience as a U.S. Department of Energy firefighter and as a paramedic with Morgan County Ambulance Service.

Eric Rackard

Eric Rackard

Eric Rackard was promoted from captain to battalion chief and is assigned as the A-Shift commander. He has been with Oak Ridge Fire Department for eight years, and he has served as a firefighter/engineer and paramedic.

Rackard is an Air Force veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge police increase DUI enforcement during holidays

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The Oak Ridge Police Department is partnering with the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office to enhance DUI enforcement from December 18 to January 3, surrounding the holiday season. The statewide Booze It and Lose It campaign is part of a national mobilization to prevent drunk driving.

During the first nine months of this year, Tennessee experienced 4,740 known alcohol-related crashes. That equates to an average of 17 people each day making the decision to get behind the wheel after they have been drinking.

During the holiday times, the Oak Ridge Police Department will be conducting saturation patrols throughout the city. Officer will be focusing on impaired driving, distracted driving, unrestrained motorist, as well as other traffic violations.

“We can’t stand to see this tragic loss of life again and again,” said Chief of Police James T. Akagi. “The hardest part of the job is making that house call and telling a family that their loved one is gone because someone chose to drink and drive. That’s why, leading up to the holidays, we will show zero tolerance for drunk drivers on the road. Please find a safe and sober ride home.” [Read more…]

Sheriff’s Department launching ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ crackdown

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Drive Sober

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To help save lives this holiday season, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is launching a special “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown to stop impaired drivers and to save lives on our roadways. Sheriff’s deputies will be aggressively looking for drunk and impaired drivers.

“Many families will be out during this holiday season, enjoying themselves and the holiday festivities. We want everyone to be safe on our roadways,” Sheriff Paul White said. “This is why we will be increasing enforcement to arrest impaired drivers. If you are caught drinking and driving impaired, you will be arrested. No warnings. No excuses.”

There are three simple steps people can take to stay safe and out of trouble: [Read more…]

Oak Ridge offers safety tips for holiday season

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The Oak Ridge Fire Department released a few simple safety tips for the holidays on Tuesday.

Here are the tips: [Read more…]

Oak Ridge, Clinton officers receive DUI Officer of the Year awards

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Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Derek Burchfield, left, received a DUI Officer of the Year Award on December 7 at the Governor’s Highway Safety Office annual joint network meeting in Knoxville. (Photo by Oak Ridge Police Department)

 

Officer Derek Burchfield of the Oak Ridge Police Department and Patrolman Adam Warren of the Clinton Police Department have received DUI Officer of the Year awards.

They were among nearly 100 officers and law enforcement agencies recognized by the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office. The awards were given out at regional meetings in Jackson, Murfreesboro, Pikeville, Knoxville, and Greeneville.

The Knoxville meeting was on December 7. Seventeen East Tennessee officers received the DUI (Driving Under the Influence) Officer of the Year Award. More than 120 officers attended.

Chief James Shetterly of the Rocky Top Police Department received a Partner of the Year Award, and Officer Stanley Wade and Jacqueline West of the Rocky Top Police Department were named Child Passenger Safety Technicians of the Year. [Read more…]

DA Johnson: TBI investigating Morgan County Jail

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State officials are investigating allegations of assaults on an inmate at the Morgan County Jail, a law enforcement official said Friday.

The two investigations by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation were acknowledged on Friday by Ninth District Attorney General Russell Johnson.

The first investigation focuses on an allegation that an inmate was assaulted by another inmate on November 24, and two corrections officers may have encouraged the assault or at least stood by while it occurred, a press release said.

The second investigation involves an allegation that four corrections officers assaulted an inmate on December 15, hours after that same inmate made a seemingly unprovoked but violent assault against two corrections officers, the press release said. [Read more…]

County Commission approves 18-month lease for General Sessions Court

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The seven-year lease on the Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, on Bus Terminal Road in Oak Ridge expires Dec. 31, 2015, but the Anderson County Commission on Thursday agreed to an 18-month lease to keep the courthouse where it is now. That will give county officials time to consider options for where to locate the courthouse. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:50 p.m. Dec. 18.

CLINTON—With no other alternative lined up yet, the Anderson County Commission on Thursday agreed to an 18-month lease for the Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge. That will keep the courthouse at its current home until mid-2017, giving county officials time to consider where to locate the General Sessions Court, Division II.

The courthouse is used by police officers in Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, and Rocky Top, among other agencies and businesses.

The current seven-year lease expires at the end of the year, and officials have been trying to determine since October whether to keep the courthouse where it is now, find a new location in Oak Ridge, or move the Division II court to Clinton, where Division I is located.

County commissioners approved the 18-month lease at a rate of $5,500 per month during a Thursday evening meeting. The lease, which was approved 12-2, will not include a warehouse building used by the county at the courthouse site on Bus Terminal Road. [Read more…]

AC Sheriff’s Department asks for help identifying burglary suspect

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Old-Tacora-Hills-Burglary-Dec-15-2015

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspect in this photo. The person was involved in a residential burglary on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015 on Old Tacora Hills Road near Clinton.

 

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is asking the public for help in identifying the suspect in the photo above. The suspect was involved in a residential burglary on Tuesday, December 15, on Old Tacora Hills Road near Clinton.

Anyone having information on this person is asked to contact Investigator Jeff Gilliam at (865) 457-6255, extension 142, or the Sheriff’s Communications Center at (865) 457-2414.

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.

Clinton Police Department launches Holiday House Watch

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The Clinton Police Department has launched a service called Holiday House Watch.

It’s an ongoing service meant to help residents traveling away from home during the Christmas season, a press release said. The service was announced by Clinton Police Chief Rick Scarbrough on Thursday.

Clinton city residents have the option of calling the department at (865) 457-3112 or logging onto the CPD website to let officers know the dates and times they will be out of town. [Read more…]

Two men indicted in robbery, kidnappings at Y-12 Credit Union, SmartBank

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Michael Benanti

Michael Benanti (Photo courtesy WATE-TV in Knoxville)

Brian Witham

Brian Witham (Photo courtesy WATE-TV in Knoxville)


Note: This story was last updated at 10:37 p.m.

Two men were indicted Tuesday 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.

The two men are Michael Benanti and Brian Witham. One is from Pennsylvania, and the other is from Maine.

The three financial institutions they targeted were Y-12 Federal Credit Union on Lafayette Drive in Oak Ridge, SmartBank on Advantage Place in Knoxville, and Northeast Community Credit Union on Jason Witten Way in Elizabethton.

The indictment of Benanti and Witham by a federal grand jury for the armed bank extortions was filed on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Knoxville. You can read the 15-count indictment, which also includes charges of carjacking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, here. [Read more…]