Oak Ridge Today

ORPD: Operation Safe Start starts Monday, first day of school

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The Oak Ridge Police Department will begin Operation Safe Start on Monday, the first day of school.

The ORPD asked motorists to drive safely in and around school zones, especially during arrival and dismissal times. Every division of the Police Department will be used to strictly enforce traffic ordinances in and around school zones, a press release said.

“The beginning of the school year is a time when there is a greater risk of transportation-related injuries to children,” the press release said. “When it comes to the safety of our youth, there can be no margin for error. The well-being of our children is one of the highest of priorities at the Oak Ridge Police Department.” [Read more…]

ORPD: Four shots fired at woman who pointed pistol at officer

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Oak Ridge Police Department Logo

Three counts of aggravated assault pending against woman; officers on administrative leave

Two Oak Ridge police officers fired four shots at a woman who pointed a pistol at one of them on Saturday night, authorities said.

The woman, who had reportedly threatened to commit suicide, pointed the semi-automatic pistol at Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Leslie Miller after authorities had ordered her to put down the gun, a press release said.

Fearing for her safety, Miller fired one round, while another responding officer, Christopher Carden, fired three shots at the at the woman, Anna King, who fell backwards, the ORPD press release said.

Police responded to the home at 123 Jonathan Lane at about 11:37 p.m. Saturday after King’s boyfriend called police to report that King had threatened to commit suicide. The boyfriend said King had access to several weapons, including a pistol, a rifle, and a shotgun. Besides Miller and Carden, Officer Kenneth Prickett was also dispatched to the home to check King’s welfare, the press release said. [Read more…]

Final two ‘After Dark’ entertainment events feature comedy, superhero film

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Oak Ridge After Dark

The final two installments of this year’s Oak Ridge After Dark Series will feature comedy and a superhero film. The two entertainment events are scheduled for August 8 and 15 in A.K. Bissell Park.

Oak Ridge After Dark is presented by the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau.

On August 8, local comedy improv troupe Einstein Simplified will take the Performing Arts Pavilion stage for a free family-friendly show beginning at 7 p.m., a press release said. Einstein Simplified has been entertaining in the Knoxville area for more than 18 years. The act relies heavily on audience participation and gives everyone the chance to become part of the show.

Comedy night is sponsored by Classic Hits 93.1. No glass containers or alcohol will be allowed on site. Concessions will be available for sale. [Read more…]

Woman points handgun at officers, who fire shots

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Charges pending against suspect

A 46-year-old woman who had threatened to harm herself on Jonathan Lane on Saturday night abruptly pointed a handgun at officers, who responded by firing multiple shots, the Oak Ridge Police Department said. None of the shots hit the woman, who was then subdued and later taken to Methodist Medical Center for evaluation and treatment, a press release said.

Three police officers had responded to 123 Jonathan Lane at 11:38 p.m. Saturday to check on the woman’s welfare, the ORPD press release said. The officers arrived within three minutes and observed a female subject on the sidewalk armed with a handgun, the release said.

“Officers directed her to place the handgun on the ground; however, the subject refused to follow the officers’ commands and alternated holding the handgun to her head and throat,” the release said. “As officers continued to talk to her, she abruptly pointed the handgun at the officers, who responded by firing multiple shots, none of which struck the subject. The subject was then subdued by the officers without further incident. Additional officers and paramedic units responded to the scene, and the suspect was transported to Methodist Medical Center for evaluation and treatment.”

The press release said charges against the suspect are pending, and no more information will be released at this time.

Forty-two arrests in meth-making conspiracy in Anderson, Campbell

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Forty-two people have been arrested in a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine using pseudoephedrine in Anderson and Campbell counties, and another 17 have been indicted, authorities said.

The arrests and indictments of the 59 people on July 16 followed an investigation by more than a dozen agencies. The investigation found that those involved were buying pseudoephedrine at local pharmacies and using it to manufacture methamphetamine at various places in the two counties, U.S. Attorney William C. Killian said in a Thursday press release.

Those indicted include: [Read more…]

Atlanta burglary suspect jailed after high-speed police chase, CPD says

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Victor Allen Webb

Victor Allen Webb

A 26-year-old Georgia man remained in jail on Saturday after a high-speed police chase on Friday that started in Clinton and ended between Oak Ridge and Oliver Springs, authorities said.

The suspect, Victor Allen Webb of Atlanta, is facing charges in connection with at least two local home burglaries, the Clinton Police Department said in a press release.

On Friday morning, a CPD officer on special neighborhood patrol spotted the suspect vehicle near the scene of burglaries this week, the release said.

“I had asked Patrolman Brian Galloway to keep an eye on homes in the western end of Clinton between Charles G. Seivers Boulevard and the river, due to recent burglaries,” Clinton Police Chief Rick Scarbrough said. “When officer Galloway attempted to stop the white Kia, instead of stopping, the suspect continued on.”

Reports indicate that the pursuit continued through parts of Oak Ridge, finally ending on Oliver Springs Highway (Highway 61), the CPD said. [Read more…]

Sheriff: Eighteen arrested of 26 indicted on drug-related charges

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Paul White

Paul White

Eighteen of the 26 people indicted on drug-related charges by an Anderson County grand jury in June and July have been arrested, Sheriff Paul White said Thursday. Four were arrested in June after the indictments were returned, and the other 14 have been arrested since Monday, the sheriff said in a press release.

The arrests are the result of long hours of hard work by investigators of the Sheriff’s Special Operations Unit, White said. The agencies that cooperated in the investigations were the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, the Clinton Police Department, the Oak Ridge Police Department, the Rocky Top (Lake City) Police Department, the 7th Judicial District Crime Task Force, and the District Attorney General’s Office.

“Our thanks for the teamwork from all the law enforcement agencies involved in these investigations,” which are ongoing, White said.

Here is the list of those arrested and their charges, as reported by the Sheriff’s Department: [Read more…]

Bullets for blanks negligent, but rounds not put into guns during police training, attorney says

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Oak Ridge Today

KNOXVILLE—The Oak Ridge police lieutenant who sent deactivated .38-caliber pistol ammunition and live .223-caliber rifle rounds rather than blanks for use in a training session three years ago was negligent, an attorney said Thursday.

But the mistake was detected before the live rounds were put into guns, and there was no imminent danger or harm to anyone, said Benjamin K. Lauderback, who represented the City of Oak Ridge in oral arguments before the Tennessee Court of Appeals in Knoxville on Thursday.

The police officer who detected the error, former Oak Ridge Police Department Sgt. Mark Coffey, filed a formal complaint two days after the August 20, 2011, training session, known as an “active shooter” response. He resigned a few months later in October, and in August 2012, he filed a lawsuit in Anderson County Circuit Court alleging retaliation and wrongful discharge.

In the lawsuit, Coffey said other ORPD employees retaliated against him after he filed the complaint against Lt. Brad Jenkins, who supplied the ammunition. Coffey said he had been forced to resign and was “constructively discharged.” Before he left the job, Coffey said, he had been re-assigned to work under Jenkins, and he resigned because of the alleged retaliation and fears for his personal safety. He sought $600,000 in compensatory and punitive damages.

The city won a summary judgement, which is like a dismissal, in August 2013. Anderson County Circuit Court Judge Don Elledge did not find that Coffey’s working conditions were bad enough that an ordinary person couldn’t tolerate them, Lauderback said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge police officer injured in two-car crash recovering at home

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Oak Ridge Police Officer Crash Response

Oak Ridge police officers, firefighters, and EMS workers remove an injured police officer from a police car after a two-vehicle collision on Sunday afternoon at the intersection of South Illinois and Rutgers avenues.

Information from WYSH Radio

Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Cassen Jackson-Garrison, who was injured in a two-vehicle collision on Sunday afternoon, is recovering at home.

He suffered a severe concussion in the Sunday afternoon accident and was released from the University of Tennessee Medical Center on Tuesday.

Jackson-Garrison turned on his emergency lights while responding to an emergency call and was trying to cross the intersection of Illinois and Rutgers avenues at around 2:15 p.m. Sunday when his patrol car was hit on the driver’s side by a car headed east on Illinois. Neither occupant of the other car—64-year-old Carolyn Cooper and 30-year-old Lindsay Cooper, both of Knoxville—were hurt in the accident, which is being investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. [Read more…]

Police officer, two others taken to hospital after Sunday afternoon crash

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South Illinois Avenue Police Car Crash

An Oak Ridge police officer driving a police car and two occupants of a second car were taken to the hospital after a Sunday afternoon crash at South Illinois and Rutgers avenues.

 

An Oak Ridge police officer driving a police car and two occupants of a second car were taken to the hospital after a Sunday afternoon crash at South Illinois and Rutgers avenues.

The two-car crash occurred at about 2:12 p.m. Sunday, the Oak Ridge Police Department said in a statement.

The officer, the only occupant of the police vehicle, was taken by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, ORPD Capt. Charles R. Smith said in the statement. [Read more…]

Police arrest driver who resisted officer, hit steel post at Rocky Top

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Rocky Top Steel Pole Damage

Police have arrested the Knoxville man who resisted an officer at a Rocky Top convenience store early Tuesday morning before hitting this steel pole in the gas station’s parking lot.

 

Knox County and Oak Ridge officers have arrested the Knoxville man who resisted an officer before he accelerated toward a Rocky Top store and hit a steel pole in the gas station’s parking lot early Tuesday morning, authorities said.

Sherrius Smith, 20, was arrested at an apartment on West Vista Ridge Way in Knoxville at about 11:10 a.m. Tuesday by members of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Division and Oak Ridge Police Department Special Projects Unit, the ORPD said in a press release. He was transferred to the ORPD, which is taking him to the Anderson County Detention Center in Clinton, where he will face the following charges, a press release said:

  • two counts of aggravated assault,
  • possession of schedule VI controlled substances for resale, [Read more…]

Man who allegedly fired pistol charged with aggravated assault

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Wakefield Road Police Standoff

A man who allegedly shot one round from a pistol during a disturbance in a parking lot at an apartment complex on Wakefield Road on Monday has been charged with six counts of aggravated assault and one count of reckless endangerment, the Oak Ridge Police Department said. A woman has been charged with tampering with evidence.

 

An Oak Ridge man who allegedly fired one shot from a pistol during a disturbance in a parking lot on Wakefield Road on Monday has been charged with six counts of aggravated assault and one count of reckless endangerment, authorities said.

Police responded to the disturbance call, which involved several people, at an apartment complex at 105 Wakefield Road at about 7:40 p.m. Monday, an Oak Ridge Police Department press release said. During the disturbance, a man allegedly fired one shot from a pistol, the release said.

Before officers arrived, witnesses said, the suspect entered Apartment #E, and he possessed a second firearm, the press release said. ORPD officers arrived and set up a perimeter around the apartment building. [Read more…]