Oak Ridge Today

Police: Motorcyclist dies in two-vehicle crash on North Illinois Avenue

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North-Illinios-Avenue-Crash-Jan-31-2016-1

Authorities said a motorcyclist died in a collision with a car on North Illinois Avenue at the western entrance to the Kroger shopping center at about 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016. Above, the Oak Ridge Police Department and Clinton Police Department reconstruct the crash. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:23 p.m.

A motorcyclist died in a collision with a car on North Illinois Avenue on Sunday evening, authorities said.

The collision between a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle and Cadillac STS four-door sedan was reported at about 6 p.m. Sunday, Oak Ridge Police Department Deputy Chief Robin Smith said.

Smith said he didn’t immediately have details on whether the driver of the car was injured.

The crash occurred on North Illinois Avenue between Oak Ridge Turnpike and Ivanhoe Road, at the western entrance to Westcott Center, the Kroger shopping center.
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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…]

Clinton Police Department launches Holiday House Watch

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Clinton-Police-Holiday-House-Watch-December-2015

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…]

Bank robbery alert, traffic stop lead to arrest of suspect

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Home Federal Bank Robbery Stop Oct. 20, 2015

A suspect in a bank robbery in Powell on October 20, 2015, was arrested just a few hours later in the eastbound lanes of North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard at Interstate 75. The suspect was stopped by the Clinton Police Department with help from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. (Photo by Lisa Kincaid)

 

An alert sent to local law enforcement combined with a traffic stop in Clinton led to the arrest of a suspect in a Powell bank robbery in October, federal officials said.

Christopher Michael Miller, 36, is accused of a bank robbery at Home Federal Bank at 105 East Emory Road in Powell on Tuesday afternoon, October 20.

He was arrested just a few hours later on North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard at Interstate 75 in Clinton.

A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Knoxville alleged Miller entered the Home Federal Bank at about 1:38 p.m. that Tuesday, approached a teller, and passed a handwritten note that read: “I Have 2 Guns! I need all the 50’s, 100’s out of your drawer! No FAKE Blue Bills. NOW!”

The teller complied with the demand for money and provided an undisclosed amount of cash to Miller, the complaint said. [Read more…]

Clinton police arrest robbery suspect

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Clinton Police Department detectives have arrested a Knoxville man, 37-year-old Wallace Wade Tidwell, in connection with a weekend convenience store robbery, authorities said.

Reports indicate that a clerk at the Clinton BP at 2228 North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard flagged down a patrol car at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday and told the officer she had just been robbed, the CPD said in a release. The clerk said a white male went into the restroom of the store, and when he came out, he walked up to the cash register and demanded all the money, the release said. [Read more…]

The numbers: ORPD turnover 2007-2015

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James T. Akagi

James T. Akagi

Turnover in the Oak Ridge Police Department is one of several issues at the heart of a contentious debate over the ORPD and its chief, James T. Akagi.

But since the debate started in late January, there hasn’t been much public discussion of how the turnover rate compares, in either numbers or percentages, to the rate before Akagi started on July 1, 2011.

Information requested by Oak Ridge Today and provided by the Oak Ridge Personnel Department and Personnel Director Penny Sissom sheds some light. That data goes back more than eight years, starting in Calendar Year 2007. That’s roughly 4.5 years before Akagi started and more than 3.5 years since.

Oak Ridge Today analyzed the data by calendar year (January-December) and fiscal year (July 1-June 30). The data shows that ORPD turnover ebbs and flows from year to year, with a high of 19 and a low of one.

Oak Ridge Police Department Turnover (2007-2015)

Here are the numbers by calendar year (CY), from January to December, based on city data: [Read more…]

Third Clinton car lot hit by thieves

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Information from WYSH Radio

For the third time in a month, a Clinton auto dealership was hit by thieves over the weekend.

The first two instances occurred at Fox Toyota, where a horse trailer and a 2015 Toyota 4Runner were stolen during the past few weeks.

On Saturday, the Clinton Police Department was called to Ray Varner Ford on Seivers Boulevard on a report of a stolen SUV. When they arrived, officers were told that a black 2012 Ford Explorer valued at $28,000 had been taken from Varner’s lot sometime between March 31, when employees put new tires on it, and Saturday morning. [Read more…]

Video, picture: Help CPD catch a theft suspect

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Scrap Metal Solutions Theft

Clinton Police Department detectives are looking for a suspect (or suspects) involved in the burglary of Scrap Metal Solutions on J.D. Yarnell Industrial Parkway.

According to the initial investigation, it’s believed the break-in occurred sometime during the weekend.

“We’re asking you to take a look at this video,” the CPD said. “If you know the suspect or have any information, please contact Lieutenant Carl Bailey or Detective Jason Lawson at (865) 457-3112.”

See the video here: [Read more…]

Clinton police seek help finding driver in horse trailer theft

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The Clinton Police Department is asking for the public’s help finding the vehicle pictured here. The driver is wanted for questioning in the theft of a horse trailer from Fox Toyota this past weekend, authorities said.

If you can provide any information, call CPD Lieutenant Carl Bailey or Detective Jason Lawson at (865) 457-3112.

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Clinton police investigating man’s death

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Information from WYSH Radio

According to a police report on file at the Clinton Police Department, investigators are looking into the death of a 36-year-old Clinton man.

The incident occurred on December 27 when Clinton Police were called to a home on Lee Lane and found 36-year-old Jason Sharp unconscious on the floor, bleeding from his mouth and not breathing.

Despite the efforts of first responders, Sharp died shortly after arriving at Methodist Medical Center. [Read more…]

After two days in hospital, toddler dies from drowning, CPD says

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Anthony Hampton

Anthony Hampton (Photo courtesy Brenda Hood)

The two-year-old boy who apparently fell into a swimming pool at his grandparents’ home in Clinton on Tuesday morning died Thursday morning at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, authorities said.

Anthony Hampton had been in the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU, at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville, the Clinton Police Department said.

The CPD and Clinton Fire Department responded to the near-drowning on Melton Hill Circle in Clinton at about 8:40 a.m. Tuesday. Hampton was first taken to Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge and then transported to Children’s Hospital. He died at about 4 a.m. Thursday. [Read more…]

Toddler hospitalized after apparently falling into swimming pool

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Note: This story was updated at 12:26 p.m.

A toddler who apparently fell into a swimming pool on Tuesday morning reportedly remained in an intensive care unit in Knoxville, authorities said.

The Clinton police and fire departments were dispatched to a home on Melton Hill Circle in Clinton at about 8:40 a.m. Tuesday, the Clinton Police Department said in a statement.

“A 911 caller told dispatchers that a two-and-half-year-old boy had, apparently, fallen into a swimming pool,” the statement said.

The CPD said the boy was first transported to Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge.

“At last report, the child remained in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at East Tennessee Childrens Hospital in Knoxville,” the statement said.

More information will be added as it becomes available.