Oak Ridge Today

Attempted second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping charges dismissed

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Jacob Lynn Rutherford

Jacob Lynn Rutherford

Four charges against an Oak Ridge man that included attempted second-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping were dismissed in July after a victim or state witness failed to appear, according to court records and court officials.

Jacob Lynn Rutherford, 22, had also been charged with aggravated assault and assault. Those charges were also dismissed.

Rutherford had been charged in two separate alleged assaults this year, one on February 25 and another on April 28. Police responded to both alleged assaults at 101 Locust Lane, where Rutherford lives.

Rutherford allegedly used a metal rod in one of the beatings, authorities said, and he was also accused of hitting the woman in the head with a gun and forcing her into his vehicle at gunpoint, according to arrest warrants.

The charges were dismissed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge on July 26, when a state witness or victim did not appear. Judgements on the aggravated assault and especially aggravated kidnapping charges said the victim failed to appear. That’s the same victim as in the attempted second-degree murder charge. [Read more…]

Demonstrator arrested after annual march to Y-12

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OREPA-Rosdatter-Y-12-ORPD-Aug-6-2016-3

Beth Rosdatter of Lexington, Kentucky, in white T-shirt, was arrested on a state misdemeanor charge of obstructing a highway after she walked up to the federal “blue line” and sat on the pavement in front of it at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex on East Bear Creek Road on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:45 p.m. Aug. 7.

A Kentucky woman was arrested on a state misdemeanor charge after she walked up to the federal “blue line” at the front entrance of the Y-12 National Security Complex on East Bear Creek Road on Saturday afternoon and sat down on the pavement at the main entrance to the nuclear weapons plant.

Ralph Hutchison, coordinator of the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, said Rosdatter, a 55-year-old mother who has a doctorate in philosophy, did not cross the blue line. Crossing it can result in federal charges.

In an apparent act of civil disobedience, Rosdatter sat in the roadway, on the hot asphalt near the blue line. She appeared to be questioned by Y-12 security officers and the Oak Ridge Police Department and then detained by the ORPD.

Also Saturday, Michael Walli, one of three protesters who broke into Y-12 on July 28, 2012, and splashed blood and sprayed graffiti on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility as part of an effort to protest nuclear weapons, helped lead a two-mile nuclear disarmament march to Y-12 from Alvin K. Bissell Park in central Oak Ridge. Rosdatter’s arrest followed that march.

Walli was released from prison along with his two fellow protesters, Megan Rice and Greg Boertje-Obed, on May 16, 2015, eight days after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit overturned their more serious felony sabotage convictions. [Read more…]

Driver in alleged hit-and-run with pedestrians faces more charges

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Steven Ray Buxton

Steven Ray Buxton

The driver in an alleged hit-and-run that injured two female pedestrians on East Tennessee Avenue on Monday afternoon is facing more charges, in addition to aggravated assault, according to court records.

Steven Ray Buxton, 62, of Jefferson Avenue in Oak Ridge, has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, driving under the influence, and failure to maintain a lane, according to arrest warrants filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge.

The women were struck by a vehicle on East Tennessee Avenue near Towne Road at about 1:30 p.m. Monday as several pedestrians were crossing the road from Gallo Loco restaurant, which is on the south side of East Tennessee, to the north side of the road, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

In a press release earlier this week, the ORPD said a black truck had stopped for the pedestrians while they crossed the street. A beige Toyota Corolla, which was traveling behind the black truck, drove onto the sidewalk, passing the black truck, and struck two women, the press release said. The Toyota Corolla then allegedly fled the scene. [Read more…]

Alleged hit-and-run crash sends two to hospital; suspect charged

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An alleged hit-and-run crash on East Tennessee Avenue injured two women on Monday afternoon, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 1:30 p.m. Monday, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

The women were struck by a vehicle on East Tennessee Avenue near Town Road as several pedestrians were crossing the road from Gallo Loco restaurant, which is on the south side of East Tennessee, to the north side of the road, the ORPD said.

Officers said a black truck had stopped for the pedestrians while they crossed the street. A beige Toyota Corolla, which was traveling behind the black truck, drove onto the sidewalk, passing the black truck, and struck two women, a press release said. The Toyota Corolla then allegedly fled the scene. [Read more…]

Georgia man, woman indicted in Check Into Cash robbery

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Check Into Cash

The Oak Ridge Police Department reported that a robbery was reported at Check Into Cash at 361 South Illinois Avenue at about 3:15 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLINTON—A Georgia man and woman have been indicted in a robbery at Check Into Cash in Oak Ridge in June 2015.

Arvenzio Clyde Miles, 24, and Kianna Denise Hill, 22, were indicted by the Anderson County Grand Jury on July 6, 2016. They had arraignments in Anderson County Circuit and Criminal Court in Clinton on Friday.

Miles and Hill are both charged with three counts of aggravated robbery, a Class B felony; especially aggravated kidnapping with a gun, a Class A felony; and aggravated assault while displaying a firearm, a Class C felony.

Hill and Miles are accused in an armed robbery at Check Into Cash at 361 South Illinois Avenue at about 3:15 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2015. They were arrested less than two weeks later in East Point, Georgia, southwest of Atlanta, on Wednesday, July 8, 2015.

The indictments allege that Hill and Miles confined Calvin Murray, a store manager, and employees Morgan Gist and Joy Jennings, and took their cell phones while displaying a firearm. All three were forced into a restroom at gunpoint against their will, and they were held captive there until the robbery was complete, according to arrest warrants filed in July 2015. The warrants alleged that the cell phones were taken to prevent the victims from calling the police. [Read more…]

Aggravated robbery charge dismissed, Oak Ridge man will get gun back

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Xyrius Jaeren Dickerson

Xyrius Jaeren Dickerson

An aggravated robbery charge filed against an Oak Ridge man in June was dismissed on Tuesday, and the man will get his gun back, court records said.

A hearing had been scheduled for Xyrius Jaeren Dickerson, 21, in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge on Tuesday afternoon.

But the charge was dismissed, attorney David Stuart said. The alleged victim has refused to appear, he said.

Prosecutors had no choice but to not oppose the motion to dismiss, Stuart said.

The defense also got an order to get Dickerson’s gun back, Stuart said. The gun had been placed into evidence at the Oak Ridge Police Department. Its return to Dickerson is subject to a few conditions, including proof of ownership and compliance with city rules and regulations. [Read more…]

Man charged with attempted 1st-degree murder after allegedly shooting sister

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Eric Joe Wilson

Eric Joe Wilson

 

An Oak Ridge man has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault after allegedly shooting his sister, hitting her in the ear, during an argument on Pacific Road in April, court records said.

Eric Joe Wilson, 42, allegedly got a handgun from his bedroom during the April 19 argument at 107 Pacific Road after stating he was going to shoot his sister, according to affidavits filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge.

“The defendant fired one shot in victim’s direction, striking her in the ear,” according to the affidavits, which were filed by Oak Ridge Police Department Detective Kevin Craig.

The sister, Suzan Stiles, had a gunshot wound to the ear, the two affidavits said. She was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville to be treated. [Read more…]

Woman arrested for role in alleged armed robbery that injured two

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Larissa Cate Little

Larissa Cate Little

A Knoxville woman has been charged with especially aggravated robbery for her role in an alleged armed robbery of cash and prescription medications on Jonathan Lane in May that sent two people to the hospital with serious injuries or broken bones that required medical treatment and hospital stays, authorities said.

Larissa Cate Little, 27, of Dude Lane in Knoxville, was arrested Thursday by the Oak Ridge Police Department. She remained jailed in the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton early Friday afternoon. Her bond on the especially aggravated robbery charge has been set at $100,000.

An arrest warrant said Little allegedly brought two male defendants who are not identified in the warrant to a Jonathan Lane home with the intent to commit an armed robbery at about 3:15 p.m. May 21. Little knew that the two Jonathan Lane victims, a male and female, would open the door for her because they knew her, said the warrant, filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge.

Little got the victims to open the door, then her two male co-defendants entered the home, striking the male victim in the face with what he believed to be a firearm, ORPD Detective William Weaver said. [Read more…]

Updated: Missing child located, safe

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Note: This story was updated at 1:48 p.m.

The child reported missing from West Outer Drive on Wednesday afternoon has been located, and he is safe, authorities said.

The three-year-old was reported missing at about 1 p.m. Wednesday. The Oak Ridge Police Department confirmed that he had been located at about 1:44 p.m.

To contact the ORPD, you may call them at 911 for emergencies and (865) 425-4399 for non-emergencies.

To sign up for text alerts from the ORPD, text your zip code to 888777. You can also see a sign-up form on the Nixle website at http://local.nixle.com/alert/5671353/.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

ORPD investigating truancy cases with DA’s Office, Oak Ridge Schools

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The Oak Ridge Police Department, Anderson County District Attorney General’s Office, and Oak Ridge Schools have started investigating juveniles with unexcused absences from school during the 2015-2016 school year, officials said Friday.

“This process involves seeking petitions for truancy for those students who were absent for significant periods of time,” a City of Oak Ridge press release said.

The petitions will be submitted with the Anderson County Juvenile Court for remediation, the press release said. The 15 petitions were the start of an ongoing investigation, and officials anticipate that additional juvenile petitions will be filed.

“As part of this investigation, ORPD will also be investigating additional allegations of educational neglect, and when warranted, will seek petitions in (Anderson County General) Sessions Court against parents of students with a high number of unexcused absences from school during the 2015-2016 school year,” the release said. [Read more…]

No injuries reported after suspect allegedly rams vehicle, points gun at four people

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No injuries were reported after a suspect allegedly rammed someone else’s vehicle and pointed a handgun at four other people on West Bryn Mawr Circle early Friday, authorities said.

The disturbance was reported at about 12:22 a.m. Friday, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $1,000, the ORPD said in a press release. [Read more…]

Armed robbery reported in Burger King parking lot Thursday

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An armed robbery was reported in the parking lot of Burger King on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Thursday, authorities said.

The alleged robbery was reported at about 4:43 p.m. Thursday, the Oak Ridge Police Department said. It allegedly involved two suspects who fled in a vehicle, the ORPD said.

Officers searched the area for the vehicle and suspects, a press release said. [Read more…]