Claxton Archives - Oak Ridge Today

Two charged in Claxton shooting, one with attempted murder

Posted at 4:32 pm January 14, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Jacob Lynn Rutherford

CLAXTON—Two people have been charged in the shooting on Clinton Highway in Claxton on Saturday, and one of them faces charges of attempted murder, authorities said.

Jacob Lynn Rutherford, 23, of Oak Ridge, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy. Rutherford is in the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton pending bond that will be set at arraignment, Lucas said.

His girlfriend, Maggie Taylor Atteberry, 24, of Clinton, was charged with being an accessory after the fact, and she has been released on bond, Lucas said.

Deputies had responded to a report of a person shot at the Bread Box on Edgemoor Road on Saturday evening when they found Nathan Lynn Phillips, 36, of Clinton, with gunshot wounds. Another person was driving him to the hospital, but they had stopped at the store to call for an ambulance, Lucas said. Phillips was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville by Anderson County EMS. Phillips’ wounds were more serious than originally thought, and he remains in the hospital, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Investigators questioning suspect, girlfriend in Claxton shooting

Posted at 11:23 pm January 13, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department investigates a shooting at 3008 Clinton Highway, at the intersection of Clinton Highway and Lonesome Dove Road in Claxton, on Saturday evening, Jan. 13, 2018. Two were reported to have non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

CLAXTON—Investigators are questioning a suspect and his girlfriend in the shooting that injured two people on Clinton Highway on Saturday, authorities said.

The two are believed to be involved in the shooting, and they were taken into custody without incident at a relative’s mobile home, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy

“Investigators will be questioning them concerning the shooting incident,” Lucas said Saturday night.

He said the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department will not release any names until investigators determine their involvement and what charges will be filed. [Read more…]

Teen rescued from cave in Claxton

Posted at 3:45 pm July 28, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A teenager was rescued from a cave in Claxton on Thursday, July 27, 2017, and he was taken to a hospital to be evaluated for back and ankle pain, authorities said. (Photo by Anderson County Volunteer Rescue Squad)

Note: This story was updated at 1:30 p.m. July 29.

A teenager was rescued from a cave in Claxton on Thursday, and he was taken to a hospital to be evaluated for back and ankle pain, authorities said.

The 16-year-old boy had called 911 to say he was in a cave off Mehaffey Road in Claxton, and he was not able to find his way out, according to an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department incident report.

The cave was in woods behind Spring Hill Baptist Church.

A family member said the boy had previously asked to go into the cave, the report said. On Thursday, he told his grandmother that he was going to a neighbor’s house to mow the lawn but instead went to the cave alone, the report said. [Read more…]

WYSH: Two weekend fires deemed suspicious

Posted at 11:54 am May 30, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Two weekend fires in Anderson County are being investigated as suspicious.

The first occurred late Sunday night at a mobile home on Hillvale Road. Deputies reported that the trailer was engulfed in flames upon their arrival at around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Crews from the Claxton and Andersonville Volunteer Fire Departments arrived and doused the flames, after which the on-scene commander told Deputy Matthew Landis that he suspected the cause of the fire was arson.

Neighbors told deputies that the property owner had passed away several years ago and they did not know who owns it now. Neighbors said that they had seen a woman and two men at the house earlier in the evening, and said they suspected that the trailer was being used as a meth lab.

With the cause of the fire deemed suspicious, the case was turned over to the Criminal Investigation Division for follow-up. [Read more…]

Warrants: Driver who crashed stolen car into river had slurred speech, trouble staying awake

Posted at 6:44 pm March 10, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Darrell Wayne Bouck

CLAXTON—The Knoxville man who crashed a car reported as stolen into Bull Run Creek on Wednesday, prompting a nighttime search of the water with the help of divers, had slurred speech and trouble staying awake, authorities said.

Darrell Wayne Bouck Jr., 38, of Byington Solway Road, has been charged with driving under the influence; theft of more than $1,000; stolen plate; no driver’s license; and a due care violation, according to traffic citations, arrest warrants, and a preliminary crash report by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The license plate and the vehicle, identified as a 2003 Honda Civic in the traffic citations, had been reported stolen in Knox County, according to the warrants, which were filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton.

The single-vehicle crash was reported at about 7:53 p.m. Wednesday on New Henderson Road in Claxton, near Bull Run Park. [Read more…]

Driver injured after car, reported as stolen, crashes into water near Bull Run Park

Posted at 10:25 pm March 8, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Rescue Squad searches for a vehicle that was reported to go into the water off New Henderson Road near Bull Run Park just after 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, 2017.

The Anderson County Rescue Squad searches for a vehicle that went off New Henderson Road and into Bull Run Creek near Bull Run Park in Claxton on Wednesday evening, March 8, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was last updated at 1 p.m. March 9.

CLAXTON—The driver of a car that had been reported stolen was injured when the vehicle plunged off New Henderson Road and into deep water near Bull Run Park in Claxton on Wednesday evening, authorities said.

When deputies arrived, the driver was found lying on the embankment near the water, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

Rescuers received a report that two men working at a nearby home heard the crash and pulled the driver of the car from the water to safety, Lucas said.

Divers from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Anderson County Rescue Squad, and Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad checked the car and surrounding area in the water, but no other occupants were found, according to Lucas and Claxton Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Dusty Sharpe and Lieutenant Mike Dabney.

Authorities said the driver was not initially alert. He was taken by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Dabney said. The driver’s name, age, and condition weren’t available Wednesday night. [Read more…]

Two treated for smoke inhalation after Saturday fire in Claxton

Posted at 11:38 am January 9, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Two people were taken to an area emergency room early Saturday following a house fire in Claxton.

The fire was reported at a home in the 600 block of Foust Carney Road in Claxton at around 1:30 a.m. Saturday. Claxton firefighters and Anderson County deputies responded to the scene, as did members of the Anderson County EMS. [Read more…]

Updated: Authorities suspend search for suspects in Claxton

Posted at 11:00 am December 19, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Law enforcement used K-9s to search extensively for about five hours for suspects who crashed a rental van on Edgemoor Road in Claxton on Sunday night, but they were not able to locate anyone and the search has been suspended, authorities said Monday.

A Sheriff’s Department K-9 bloodhound tracked all the way across Chestnut Ridge to West Wolf Valley Road, but the track ended abruptly and it appears the suspects were picked up by a car, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

Around midnight, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department also helped Oak Ridge Police Department search the east end of Oak Ridge for about two hours with a K-9 and other deputies looking for a suspicious person that had been reported. It is not clear if that person was involved with the burglary suspects, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Manhunt in Claxton follows incident in west Knox, chase, crash

Posted at 10:15 pm December 18, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

CLAXTON—The manhunt in Claxton on Sunday evening is related to a possible vehicle break-in or attempted break-in at Concord Park in west Knox County, followed by a possible chase by a victim down Pellissippi Parkway and Edgemoor Road, and then a crash on Edgemoor Road, authorities said.

Authorities reported that there might have been three or four men in the rental van that was chased and then crashed on Edgemoor Road at Ozella Lane, just east of Bull Run Fossil Plant.

The incident was reported at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy. [Read more…]

ORPD: Manhunt underway for three people in Claxton area

Posted at 7:34 pm December 18, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A manhunt is under way for three people in the Claxton area, the Oak Ridge Police Department said Sunday evening.

Residents in the area of Edgemoor Road and Melton Lake Drive should use caution and lock their doors, the ORPD said.

Also, motorists should avoid picking up any person who is on foot, and use caution. [Read more…]

Letter: Please contribute to help firefighters, first responders

Posted at 2:17 pm December 4, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Letters Leave a Comment

To the Editor:

We’ve all been praying for rain, perhaps several times a day. This drought has been affecting our area for over four months now.

Because it’s been so dry, there’s been a ban on fires. You’ve heard the reports: No open fires. No fire pits or campfires. No grilling whether charcoal or gas. No throwing down a cigarette butt. No burning of brush or rubbish.

If you were going to ask, the answer would be a simple “NO!”

As a result, someone has, or did because they figured it was OK. Whether it was intentional or not. It happened. Fires popped up here and there. On the mountain side, at the campground, someone’s backyard, or even a spark from an engine. [Read more…]

More information on local firefighters, law enforcement responding to Gatlinburg fires

Posted at 4:27 pm November 29, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

clinton-fire-department-in-gatlinburg-2-nov-29-2016

The Clinton Fire Department is pictured above responding to the fires in Sevier County on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016. (Photo by Clinton Fire Department)

We have more information on local firefighters and law enforcement that have either responded to help fight the fires in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park—or remain in standby in case they are needed.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas and other officials said Andersonville, Claxton, Clinton, Marlow, Oak Ridge, and Oliver Springs fire departments all sent resources to the fire.

Anderson County EMS sent its mass casualty response vehicle on Monday night, and they sent three ambulances Tuesday morning, Lucas said.

Lucas said he talked to Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals on Monday night, and Anderson County deputies are on stand-by in case Sevier County needs additional law enforcement personnel. [Read more…]