Oak Ridge Today

Grandfather reports robbery by grandson, knife-wielding suspect

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anderson County Sheriff Logo

An Anderson County man told deputies he was robbed at knifepoint Wednesday night by his grandson and a second man wearing a green rag over his face and holding a 15-inch-long knife, authorities said.

Deputies responded to a reported robbery in progress on Clear Branch Road, south of Rocky Top, at about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. When they arrived, resident Genis Hawkins told them he had answered a knock at the door and opened it for his grandson, who asked if he could use Hawkins’ phone. Hawkins said he left the door open and went to get the phone from his pants pocket.

But then his grandson and the armed man entered the home, Hawkins said. The armed man allegedly held the knife to Hawkins’ stomach area and told Hawkins he would “gut him,” according to an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department incident report. [Read more…]

Four students found with drugs, hatchet, ski mask, ORPD says

Posted at
By 11 Comments

Oak Ridge High School

Oak Ridge High School is pictured above.

A 14-year-old male who refused to go to school on Wednesday possessed a tactical load bearing vest, and four students detained Thursday, including one adult student, were found near Oak Ridge High School in a car that contained drugs, a ski mask, and a hatchet, authorities said.

The news comes less than one day after the Oak Ridge Police Department announced it seized a stolen, loaded gun from the car of a student who had allegedly caused a disturbance at Oak Ridge High School and said a knife had been seized from a student during an altercation on a school bus.

In a Thursday morning press release, the ORPD said officers responded to a report of an unruly juvenile at a home on Baypath Drive at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.

“When officers arrived, they met with the mother and older sibling of a 14 year-old juvenile male who had refused to go to school,” the press release said. “Officers interviewed the juvenile and noted he was in possession of a tactical load bearing vest. Officers ultimately assisted in transporting the juvenile to the Methodist Medical Center emergency room for an evaluation, as well as coordinating with Juvenile Court authorities and referring the incident to DCS for follow-up. No criminal charges were filed. However, the investigation remains ongoing, and no further details will be released at this time.” [Read more…]

Stolen, loaded gun seized from student’s car at ORHS; knife seized in separate incident

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge High School

Oak Ridge High School is pictured above.

A stolen, loaded .357 magnum revolver was seized from the car of a student who had been causing a disturbance at Oak Ridge High School on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

Police officers also found marijuana packaged for resale and suspected drug money exceeding $950 in the car of the unidentified 17-year-old male, who was arrested and taken to Juvenile Court in Clinton, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

In a separate incident earlier Wednesday afternoon, a folding stainless steel knife was seized from a male high school student during an altercation on a school bus.

Police were investigating that incident, reported to have occurred at about 2:47 p.m. Wednesday, when ORPD School Resource Officer Sherrill Selby was sent to the high school in response to a juvenile student causing a disturbance during a disciplinary meeting with high school staff. Selby and the staff learned that the boy could be armed or have a weapon in his car. Selby detained him in the disciplinary hearing and called for backup. [Read more…]

Neighbors respond to alleged knife attack with gun, videotape, but no suspect found

Posted at
By 5 Comments

Kayla Pesterfield

Kayla Pesterfield

An Oak Ridge woman who alleged she was attacked and cut with a knife by an unknown man in her home on Tuesday afternoon was charged with false reporting after police checked the Beverly Circle property and reviewed a neighbor’s videotape, which showed no man had entered or left the residence, authorities said.

Kayla Pesterfield, 21, reported the alleged assault at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. She said the stranger was in her bedroom and attacked her by pushing her up against a wall. The man then cut her right thigh and the front of her shorts with a knife, Pesterfield told police, according to an arrest warrant.  [Read more…]

Man allegedly starts fight, gets knife, threatens to ‘kill them all’

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Richard Carl Johnson Jr.

Richard Carl Johnson Jr.

An Oliver Springs man allegedly shoved a 13-year-old boy into a vehicle and tried to assault him Monday evening before being forced off the family’s property, but Richard Carl Johnson Jr., 48, later walked up and down a road near the family’s home while carrying a large knife, screaming, and threatening to “kill them all,” authorities said.

The boy’s father and older son had tried to stop the assault at Green Acres Trailer Park, but Johnson allegedly started swinging at them. A brief fight ensued, authorities said. Johnson was hit around his head and face “numerous times” and forced off the property and back across the street, Oliver Springs Police Department Sgt. Charles Graham said in arrest warrants. [Read more…]

Trio arrested after alleged beating in barricaded home

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

An Oliver Springs man and two Clinton men charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment after an alleged beating in a barricaded home in Oliver Springs have court hearings Thursday.

The three were arrested after the Oliver Springs Police Department responded to a report of a person being held against their will and beaten in a Ridgeview Drive home at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23.

[Read more…]