Oak Ridge Today

Three charged after robbery reported at Family Dollar in Oliver Springs

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Steven Scruggs

Steven Scruggs

Note: This story was last updated at 7:40 p.m.

Three people have been charged after a robbery was reported at Family Dollar in Oliver Springs on Wednesday night, authorities said.

The robbery was reported at about 10:04 p.m. Wednesday at the store, which is at 51 Edmonds Drive in Oliver Springs.

When they arrived, Sergeant Kevin Armes and Patrolman Nathaniel Nelson of the Oliver Springs Police Department were told that, after closing and while the cashiers were doing the money count, a masked man came from the back of the store and ordered both employees to the floor and demanded all the money and cell phones, a press release said. After receiving all the cash from the register and safe, he reportedly left the store through the back, the release said. [Read more…]

Chief Deputy Lucas thanks community for support of Sheriff’s Department

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mark Lucas

Mark Lucas

To the Anderson County community:

These are difficult times for the law enforcement profession. Since July 1, 10 officers have lost their lives in shootings. Two others died from vehicular assaults and two more from car crashes. Many others have been hurt or injured while performing their duties. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all officers that have died or been injured in the line of duty.

Our deputies are reminded to always be vigilant as they go about our duties—perhaps even into harm’s way—something they do every day without hesitation. Being safe and going home to their families at the end of the shift must remain foremost in their thoughts.

We have received many messages from our community extending their support for us, thanking us, and praying for our deputies. We are blessed to have a good relationship such as this in Anderson County. This is a direct result of what our deputies do—and how they do it—every single day. Our community supports us, and we support them. [Read more…]

Marlow man flown to hospital after falling off ladder

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Lifestar-Marlow-Anderson-County-July-4-2016-IV

A Marlow man was flown to a hospital by a medical helicopter after falling eight feet off a ladder while working on his roof on Phillip Freels Lane on Monday morning, July 4, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

MARLOW—A Marlow man was flown to a hospital by a medical helicopter after he fell eight feet off a ladder while working on his roof on Monday, authorities said.

The fall was reported at about 10 a.m. Monday on Phillip Freels Lane, said Stephanie Fox, assistant chief of the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department. The fire department responded to the fall and so did Anderson County Emergency Medical Services.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department helped set up a landing zone at Old Batley Road and Oliver Springs Highway for a University of Tennessee Lifestar medical helicopter. [Read more…]

Knoxville man drowns after jumping from houseboat into Norris Lake

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anderson County Sheriff's Department Badge

Note: This story was updated at 10 a.m. July 4.

A Knoxville man drowned after jumping from a houseboat into Norris Lake on Saturday evening, authorities said.

The man has been identified as William E. Blasius, 19.

The drowning was reported at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday near Sequoyah Marina in Andersonville.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency responded.

“Several houseboats had tied off together and to the shore as they gathered to watch the fireworks show at the marina,” said Mark Lucas, chief deputy of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. “Sheriff’s investigators responded to the scene and are looking into the possibility Blasius may have hit another boat as he dove into the water.” [Read more…]

Updated: Man drowns after jumping off houseboat at Sequoyah Marina

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Note: This story was last updated at 3:40 p.m. July 3.

ANDERSONVILLE—A man drowned after jumping off a houseboat a few hours before a fireworks show at Sequoyah Marina in Andersonville on Saturday evening, authorities said.

The man was reported to have jumped into the water from the top deck of a large houseboat tied to the shore along with other houseboats, said Mark Lucas, chief deputy of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.

He said the Sheriff’s Department is investigating the possibility that the man might have hit his head on another boat.

Divers recovered the man’s body under water, authorities said. His name and age haven’t been released yet.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Sergeant Roy Smith requested rescuers after he received a report that a man jumped off either a bridge or a wall about 35 feet into the water, spokesman Matthew Cameron said Sunday.
[Read more…]

Sheriff warns against drunk driving this holiday weekend

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

4th of July GHSO

By Anderson County Sheriff’s Department

Every year, Americans head out on the nation’s highways to celebrate the Fourth of July at picnics, parties, parades, and more. Unfortunately, for many, the celebrating includes drinking alcohol, which too often leads to drunk driving on one of the most heavily traveled holidays of the year.

To crack down on drunk driving this Independence Day weekend, Anderson County law enforcement will be out in full force, aggressively targeting those who put lives in danger.

Sheriff’s deputies will be out working to make the roadways safe.

“Don’t even think about drinking and driving this Fourth of July, or you will be arrested,” said Sheriff Paul White. “The ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign means zero tolerance for drunk driving…no excuses.” [Read more…]

Aug. 4 ballot: Competitive races for Congress, AC Commission in Oak Ridge

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Voter Registration Month

The ballot is set for the August 4 county general election and state and federal primary elections. The competitive elections include the Republican and Democratic primaries for the U.S. House of Representatives in the Third Congressional District, which includes Oak Ridge, and the race for one of two seats in Anderson County Commission’s Eighth District, which includes the Woodland, Hendrix Creek, and Emory Valley precincts in Oak Ridge.

There is also competition for two seats on the Anderson County School Board, one in the Third District and the other in the Fifth District.

U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann, an Ooltewah Republican, is the incumbent in the House’s Third Congressional District. He has two opponents in the Republican primary on August 4: Allan Levene and Geoffery Suhmer Smith. (Signs for Fleischmann and Smith have both recently been posted in Oak Ridge.)

There are also three Democratic candidates on the ballot for U.S. House, Third District. They are Michael Friedman, George Ryan Love, and Melody Shekari.

The Republican winner will face the Democratic winner in the November 8 federal general election. [Read more…]

Drug Awareness Day at Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

2016 Drug Awareness Day

The Oak Ridge Chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks will be hosting the fourth annual Drug Awareness Day at the Oak Ridge Municipal Pool located at 172 Providence Road, on Saturday, June 18.

Drug Awareness demonstrations will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. inside the pool area. Hundreds of prizes will be given away to those participating in a drug awareness activity. Some of the prizes include T-shirts, coloring books, swim noodles, beach balls, and Frisbees.

This event is a partnership with Anderson County Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department, Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition, and the Tennessee Meth and Pharmaceutical Task Force. [Read more…]

McCulley, supervisor of court deputies, dies of cancer

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Corporal John McCulley, who was supervisor of court deputies, died Friday after a courageous battle with cancer, Sheriff Paul White said Monday. McCulley was 51.

McCulley began his law enforcement career with the Sheriff’s Department in April 1991. He served first as a corrections deputy and worked in court security the last several years, White said. He was promoted to corporal in November 2011 and was supervisor of the court deputies.

“John was a big man with a big smile and a big heart,” White said. “He always had a smile for everyone.”

Known as “Joe” to his family and “Big John” to his law enforcement friends, John is preceded in death by his father, Johnny McCulley; his late wife, Mary McCulley; and brother, Lynn McCulley. [Read more…]

Deputy goes ‘above and beyond’: Replaces student’s lost items on Safety Patrol trip

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Shawn Bannach and Norwood Elementary School Student on Safety Patrol Trip June 5 2016

Anderson County Deputy Shawn Bannach went above and beyond for a Norwood Elementary School student on Sunday, replacing her lost gift bag items during a AAA Safety Patrol Trip in Washington, D.C., school officials said. (Photo used with permission of Norwood Elementary School)

 

Note: This story was updated at 4:15 p.m. June 6.

Anderson County Deputy Shawn Bannach went above and beyond for a Norwood Elementary School student on Sunday, replacing her lost gift bag items during a AAA Safety Patrol Trip in Washington, D.C., school officials said.

“We had a student very upset because she waited in line for over an hour at the National Zoo to buy a stuffed animal, a mug, and a tumbler on our AAA Safety Patrol trip,” Norwood Elementary School said in a Facebook post. “She lost her gift bag and asked Officer Bannach from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department to please let her know if someone turned it in. The next time we saw him, he handed her a bag with the items she had lost.”

Bannach had gone and bought the same things at the gift shop, the school said. [Read more…]

Burglars caught in Butcher Mansion when SWAT team arrives for training, ACSD says

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Gerald Lynn Brummett

Gerald Lynn Brummett

Two burglars were caught inside the former Butcher Mansion when the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team arrived for monthly training on Thursday, May 26, authorities said.

The owner of the property allows deputies to conduct training exercises at the home, which is under renovation, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said. The Butcher Mansion is on Whirlwind Point off Old Emory Road in Claxton.

The SWAT team arrived for monthly training at about 7:30 a.m. May 26, Lucas said. They found two people had broken into the home and were preparing to steal several items, including appliances, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Former ORPD officer pleads not guilty to statutory rape, official misconduct

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Cassen Jackson-Garrison

Cassen Jackson-Garrison (Source: TBI)

Note: This story was updated at 6:10 p.m.

CLINTON—A former Oak Ridge Police Department officer charged with aggravated statutory rape and official misconduct pleaded not guilty in Anderson County Criminal Court on Friday morning.

Cassen Jackson-Garrison, 31, was indicted on the two charges by the Anderson County Grand Jury on May 3. He was arrested May 6 by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Anderson County Sheriff’s Department in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.                                                                    

At the request of Seventh District Attorney General Dave Clark, TBI special agents began investigating Cassen Jackson-Garrison, who was an ORPD officer at the time, on August 13, 2015, on a complaint that he was having sexual contact with a minor. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that Jackson-Garrison had sexual contact with the teen in July 2015, the TBI said in a May 6 press release. [Read more…]