Oak Ridge Today

Today is prescription drug take back day

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You can get rid of unwanted, expired, and unused prescription medications, along with other medicines, in Clinton, Oak Ridge, and Rocky Top today (Saturday, April 28).

Anderson County is participating in the 2018 DEA Rx Drug Take Back Day, a press release said. The DEA is the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Organizations involved in the Drug Take Back Day are ASAP of Anderson, Clinton Police Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, and Rocky Top Police Department.

Community members can bring their expired or unused medicines to one of the Anderson County Take Back locations anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday. Drive-through collections sites will be located at the police departments listed below. Each department will be set-up outside in their respective parking lots to receive the expired or unused medicines. [Read more…]

DA: Deadly force authorized, no criminal charges in fatal officer-involved shooting

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Roger Raymond York Jr.

Roger Raymond York Jr.

 

A Clinton Police Department officer was authorized to use deadly force against an armed, wanted man who did not comply with officers and fired a shot from a semi-automatic pistol during a struggle with police on November 8, and there will be no criminal charges filed against the three officers involved in the fatal shooting, Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark said Monday.

Clark worked with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to investigate the officer-involved shooting of Roger Raymond York Jr., 32, who had a Clinton address, according to Anderson County jail records.

York died after he fired a weapon at Clinton Police Department officers on East Drive in Clinton on Wednesday night, November 8, according to earlier information from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. One of the officers fired back, hitting York, who died, according to that information. [Read more…]

Anderson County residents among 44 indicted in meth distribution conspiracy

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A group of Anderson County residents was part of an alleged methamphetamine distribution ring that involved 44 people and a conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in East Tennessee and elsewhere, federal officials said Monday.

A 30-count indictment was returned against the 44 people by a federal grand jury in Greeneville in East Tennessee on January 9. Among those indicted were nine residents of Clinton, Oliver Springs, Powell, and Rocky Top, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Eastern District of Tennessee on Monday. There were also four Knoxville residents indicted and a dozen in Bristol and Kingsport in upper East Tennessee, among other defendants in Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Clinton Police Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oliver Springs Police Department, and Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force in Anderson County were among the agencies that helped with the investigation, the press release said.

Here are the people that were indicted in the alleged methamphetamine distribution conspiracy: [Read more…]

Man charged with homicide in crash that killed 3-year-old boy

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Jason Robert Braden

Jason Robert Braden II

 

An Anderson County man has been charged in an 11-count indictment that includes vehicular homicide by intoxication after a crash that killed a three-year-old boy and injured at least three other people in Oak Ridge last year.

Jason Robert Braden III, 3, died in the two-vehicle crash, which was considered a mass casualty event. It was reported at about 5:20 p.m. Friday, January 13, 2017, at the intersection of Emory Valley Road and Lafayette Drive.

Charged in the 11-count indictment is Jason Robert Braden II, 24, of Bush Road in Marlow. The charges against Braden include vehicular homicide by intoxication, vehicular homicide by recklessness, four counts of reckless aggravated assault, reckless endangerment when a deadly weapon (a motor vehicle) is involved, driving under the influence, driving without a license, speeding, and violation of the child restraint law.

The Anderson County Grand Jury in Clinton indicted Braden on February 27. He was arrested March 4. His bond has been set at $125,000, and he was released from the Anderson County Detention Facility on Monday, March 19. He has an arraignment set for Monday morning, March 26, in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton. [Read more…]

Loaded pistol found in parking area at Clinton Elementary

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A teacher found a loaded pistol in the upper parking area at Clinton Elementary School at about 6:50 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

The school contacted the Clinton Police Department, and officers arrived to ensure the weapon was made safe, a press release said.

“The weapon hasn’t been reported stolen, and we will be taking measures to ensure it isn’t tied to any criminal activity,” the CPD said.

The rear parking area of the building is open to the public after hours. Friday night, the school hosted a fundraiser, and it is possible that the weapon accidentally fell from a vehicle that evening, the press release said. [Read more…]

Movie screening, discussion to raise awareness of opioid epidemic

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Flyer_Chasing the Dragon_FINAL_Feb 20th_CMS

A movie screening and discussion on Tuesday will help raise awareness of the opioid epidemic in the community, a press release said.

The documentary “Chasing the Dragon” will be shown starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 20, in the Clinton Middle School auditorium. The screening and discussion are scheduled until 8 p.m. Parents, teachers, schools administrators, students, and other interested community members are invited to attend, the press release said. Students in grades 7-12 may attend with an adult.

The press release said there were 256 drug-related death cases in Knox and Anderson counties in 2016, according to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center. And the number continues to increase, the press release said.

“In an effort to combat the growing epidemic of prescription drug and heroin abuse, ASAP of Anderson, in cooperation with Anderson County EMS and in coordination with community partners in Anderson County, are hosting a screening of ‘Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict,’” the release said. “The FBI and DEA have released this documentary aimed at educating students, young adults, parents, and other community members about the dangers of dependence and addiction.” [Read more…]

Updated: Missing Clinton teen has been located

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Image by Clinton Police Department

Image by Clinton Police Department

 

Note: This story was updated at 3:15 .m. Feb. 9.

Update: The missing Clinton teenager has been located, the Clinton Police Department said Thursday.

Ailiyah Beets is safe, and she is being reunited with her mother immediately, the CPD said.

Previous story: [Read more…]

Clinton crash injures one

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Information from WYSH radio

A single-vehicle crash Thursday evening in Clinton sent one person to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville by Lifestar.

Few details of the crash have been made available, but WYSH reported that Clinton Police Department and Clinton Fire Department units, along with Anderson County EMS personnel, responded to the westbound lanes of Highway 61 near the rock slide area at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The victim, believed to have been the driver of the lone vehicle involved, was flown to UT Medical Center by a Lifestar medical helicopter for treatment of his or her injuries. [Read more…]

Clinton man accused of stealing $2,000 in coins from car wash

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Joshua Steven Brinyark

Joshua Steven Brinyark

 

A Clinton man is accused of breaking into a car wash, stealing $2,000 worth of coins, and exchanging about half the coins for cash at a coin machine, according to court records.

Joshua Steven Brinyark, 30, was seen on a surveillance video breaking a door window and entering an inner office to steal the coins at Pop’s Car Wash on North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard in Clinton at about 6:30 a.m. Sunday, according to affidavits filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton.

Brinyark then called a second man, Joshua Allen Bryant, at 7:34 a.m. and asked Bryant to pick him up at a Git’ N Go Market that is also on North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard, according to the affidavits. Brinyark said he would give Bryant money for the ride, the affidavits said.

“Bryant picked up Brinyark and took him off another road in Clinton near some railroad tracks, where he got out of the vehicle and picked up two buckets filled with coins,” the affidavits said. “Brinyark then asked Bryant to take him to Walmart to cash the coins, and he’d give him money.” [Read more…]

Clinton police recover several items possibly taken from area storage sheds, rental units

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Clinton Police Department Property Recovered Nov 29 2017

The Clinton Police Department this week said that it has recently recovered several items believed to have been taken from storage sheds or possibly from rental storage units in the area.

“We are urging residents to check storage buildings for missing items,” the CPD said. “If you find you have been the victim of thieves…contact your local law enforcement agency. They can arrange for you to look through our recovered property and identify items that may have been taken from your building. Keep in mind the recovered items do not include guns, lawn and garden equipment, or tools.”

But the CPD asks you to call your local police or sheriff’s department first.

For more information, call CPD Lieutenant Carl Bailey at (865) 259-1206.

Clinton police ask for help identifying robbery suspect

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Surveillance camera footage from a Git N Go robbery on South Charles G. Seivers Boulevard in Clinton on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. (Clinton Police Department on Facebook)

Surveillance camera footage from a Git N Go robbery on South Charles G. Seivers Boulevard in Clinton on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. (Clinton Police Department on Facebook)

 

An armed robbery was reported early Thursday at a Git’ N Go Market in Clinton, authorities said.

The robbery was reported at about 2 a.m. Thursday, November 30, at 501 South Charles G. Seivers Boulevard, according to the Clinton Police Department. The gas station and convenience store are just southwest of downtown Clinton, near Food City.

The CPD said a white man entered the store, held the clerk at gunpoint, and stole a small amount of money from the cash register. [Read more…]

Woman pleads guilty in fatal car-pedestrian crash on Clinton Highway

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Destany Lynn Cotner

Destany Lynn Cotner

 

A Clinton woman has pleaded guilty in a fatal car-pedestrian hit-and-run crash on Clinton Highway in March.

Destany Lynn Cotner, 25, pleaded guilty in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on Friday to two charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving death and driving under the influence (first offense).

As part of the plea agreement, two other charges were dismissed. Those charges were driving with a suspended or revoked license (first offense) and possession of contraband in a penal facility.

It was a plea by information, meaning Cotner had not yet been indicted by the Anderson County Grand Jury.

Cotner initially told the Tennessee Highway Patrol that she was the driver the night of the crash, but she later changed her story to say her co-defendant Isaac Irwin, 26, also of Clinton, was the driver, according to a narrative filed in the case and attached to warrants.

Cotner received a two-year prison sentence on the conviction of leaving the scene of an accident involving death. As a standard offender, her release eligibility is 30 percent. Her sentence on this felony conviction was suspended, and she will be placed on supervised probation. [Read more…]