CPD Archives - Oak Ridge Today

Man charged with vehicular homicide after fatal hit-and-run

Posted at 10:22 pm November 29, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Dannon Ray Cole, 50, Clinton, has been found, arrested, and charged with aggravated vehicular homicide after he allegedly hit a 39-year-old man, Jordan Pitts, riding a motorized bicycle on Clinch Avenue (Clinton Highway) early Saturday, November 20, and then fled. (Photo courtesy Clinton Police Department)

A 50-year-old Clinton man has been found, arrested, and charged with aggravated vehicular homicide after he allegedly hit a 39-year-old man riding a motorized bicycle on Clinch Avenue early Saturday, November 20, and then fled.

No one witnessed the fatal hit-and-run crash between the pickup truck allegedly driven by Dannon Ray Cole, 50, and the motorized bicycle carrying Jordan Pitts, 39, and the Clinton Police Department did not immediately have a suspect vehicle. The 3:30 a.m. crash near Portwood Road, a short drive from downtown Clinton on Clinton Highway, killed Pitts.

The person who called 911 found Pitts in the road, the CPD said. Pitts died later.

But when investigators responded, they found evidence at the crash site that helped them identify the hit-and-run vehicle, according to Anderson County court records. The evidence included vehicle parts: a portion of a front grill and red markings including the letter “G” and half of the letter “M”.

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The person who called 911 found Pitts in the road, the CPD said. Pitts died later.

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

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Temporary access ($3 per week for two weeks)

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!

Vehicle located in fatal Clinton hit-and-run

Posted at 4:31 pm November 26, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Clinton Police Department has located the vehicle they believe was involved in the fatal hit-and-run crash on Clinch Avenue in south Clinton early Saturday, November 20.

The CPD announced Tuesday the were searching for the hit-and-run vehicle, which they thought could be a 2000-2006 extended-cab GMC pickup truck with heavy front-end damage.

They said they found the vehicle Wednesday.

The CPD then asked for public help locating Dannon Ray Cole, 50, of Clinton, who is a person of interest.

[Read more…]

Clinton store clerk, accomplice arrested after robbery reported

Posted at 3:03 pm February 11, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Image by Clinton Police Department

Clinton Police Department officers arrested a Lee’s Travel Center clerk and another man in connection with the report of an aggravated robbery of the convenience store on February 5, the CPD said in a post published on Facebook.

Reports said Justin Pennington was working at the store at 2233 North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard in Clinton when a masked man pulled out a knife and told him to open the cash register or he would stab him, the CPD said.

Clinton Police Department Investigator Sergeant Scott Gregory, after reviewing store surveillance and gathering more information, discovered that the masked man, who was identified as Jacob T. Maiden, took money from the cash register and then placed two bags of suspected narcotics on the counter and left the scene, the CPD said. [Read more…]

Affidavit: Clinton man shot at two people before being shot

Posted at 11:27 am January 3, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Terry Lee Crawford

Note: This story was updated at 3:20 p.m.

The man shot in Clinton last week had first shot at two people before one of them, his son, shot back, according to police and an arrest warrant filed last week.

The warrant includes an affidavit, which is a brief description of an alleged crime. It alleged that Terry Lee Crawford, 61, who was arrested Monday, had shot at Joshua and Ashlee Crawford before Joshua Crawford shot back.

The shooting last week was reported at about 4:42 p.m. Wednesday, December 26, near the intersection of Lee Lane and State Route 61, which connects Oak Ridge and Clinton. Lee Lane is near a gas station and convenience store and the entrance to the Mariner Point residential subdivision.

At the time of the shooting, according to the affidavit, Joshua and Ashlee Crawford were in their house on Lee Lane when they heard gun shots, which sounded very close to their home. [Read more…]

Loaded pistol found in parking area at Clinton Elementary

Posted at 3:45 pm February 26, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

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…]

Updated: Missing Clinton teen has been located

Posted at 2:09 pm February 8, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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

Posted at 11:35 am December 1, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

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

Posted at 11:23 am December 1, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

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…]

K9 officers from Clinton, Knox, Loudon help relocate canine officers possibly in path of Hurricane Irma

Posted at 9:06 am September 8, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Detective Sergeant Bob Suarez, CPD K9 trainer, and K9 handlers from Knox and Loudon County are helping Miami authorities relocate 35 K9s that are possibly in the path of Hurricane Irma. The Tennessee crew is pictured loading the dogs and getting ready to head north. This van, a bus, and a truck are being used for the transport. The K9s will be safely sheltered in Tennessee until the storm passes by. (Photo courtesy Clinton Police Department on Facebook)

A K9 trainer from the Clinton Police Department and K9 handlers from Knox and Loudon counties are helping authorities in Miami relocate 35 K9s that could be in the path of Hurricane Irma, the Clinton Police Department said this week.

CPD Detective Sergeant Bob Suarez, a K9 trainer, left for Florida on Wednesday night, the Police Department said.

A van, a bus, and a truck are being used to take the dogs north. The K9s will be safely sheltered in Tennessee, the Volunteer State, until the storm passes by, the Clinton Police Department said. [Read more…]

Three charged in Clinton shooting

Posted at 5:45 pm July 31, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Brent Ashley Hayden

Three people have been arrested after a shooting was reported at a home on West Broad Street in Clinton on Wednesday, authorities said.

The three arrested on Friday included a male juvenile and Brent Ashley Hayden, 34, and Michael Steven Smith, 18, both of Clinton, the Clinton Police Department said in a press release Monday. The three were arrested by CPD detectives.

The shooting was reported on West Broad Street at about 4:16 p.m. Wednesday, July 26.

“It’s believed the three fired several shots in the direction of the residence,” the CPD said in the press release. [Read more…]

No injuries reported after shots fired at Clinton home Wednesday

Posted at 2:40 pm July 27, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

No one was injured when shots were reportedly fired at a home on West Broad Street in Clinton on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

The Clinton Police Department responded to the shooting call at about 4:16 p.m. Wednesday. An anonymous 911 caller told dispatchers that a male subject, in a black or gray-colored vehicle, was shooting a rifle in the direction of a residence, the Clinton Police Department said in a press release.

When they arrived, police found three adults and two minor children in the house, the press release said. None of the residents sustained any injuries. [Read more…]

Oliver Springs man arrested on charges of rape, exploitation of minor

Posted at 12:18 pm June 8, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Brian Seeber

A 42-year-old Oliver Springs man was arrested Wednesday afternoon on charges of rape and sexual exploitation of a minor, the Clinton Police Department said Thursday.

The arrest of Brian J. Seeber followed an investigation into reports of the possible rape of a juvenile, the CPD said in a press release.

Seeber was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon without incident at his Oliver Springs home, the CPD said. The charges include seven counts of rape and four counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to CPD Detective Leslie Miller, the charges are in connection with incidents that occurred between August 2015 and February 2017, the press release said. The victim, a member of Seeber’s household, first reported the incidents on March 6, 2017. Since reporting, the victim has been living in a safe location and has had no further contact with Seeber, the press release said. [Read more…]