Oak Ridge Today

ORPD: Intoxicated man poses as ORHS student

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William Edward Lay

William Edward Lay

A 25-year-old Sunbright man who was intoxicated tried to “pass himself off” as an Oak Ridge High School student in at least two classrooms last week, the first week of school, before being stopped in a second floor hallway during a class change, authorities said.

William Edward Lay had obtained a student’s classroom schedule, but he had no identification and continuously gave School Resource Officer Sherrill Selby the wrong birth date, Social Security number, and other identifying information, according to arrest warrants filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court.

Selby, an Oak Ridge Police Department officer, said Lay was unsteady on his feet and fell into the wall several times. She had been called to investigate a report of a suspicious male walking around and into classrooms at ORHS.

“Defendant’s eyes were red and glassy looking,” Selby said. [Read more…]

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…]

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.

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…]

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…]

Police: Man flees after driving toward store, hitting steel post in parking lot

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Oak Ridge Police Department Logo

A Knoxville man fled after resisting an officer, driving toward Rocky Top Convenience Store on Oak Ridge Turnpike, and hitting a steel post in the gas station’s parking lot early Tuesday morning, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department is still searching for the man, identified as Sherrius Smith, 20, of Viking Road in Knoxville. Officers are also searching for a 17-year-old female who was in the car with Smith.

Two ORPD officers responded to Rocky Top at about 1:40 a.m. Tuesday to investigate a suspicious black sedan in the parking lot, occupied by Smith and the juvenile, a press release said. Smith and the juvenile were reportedly intoxicated and had been involved in a verbal disturbance earlier after exiting the store, the ORPD said in the release. [Read more…]

Man shows handgun, fires one shot before surrendering as SWAT team arrives

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Wakefield Road Police Standoff

A man who had allegedly brandished a firearm inside an apartment and shot one round outside before barricading himself inside a Wakefield Road apartment surrendered as an Oak Ridge Police Department SWAT team arrived Monday evening, authorities said.

 

A man who allegedly brandished a firearm inside an apartment and fired one round outside before barricading himself inside a Wakefield Road home surrendered to Oak Ridge police officers as a SWAT team arrived Monday evening, authorities said.

The unidentified man allegedly entered the apartment at Wakefield Road Townhomes and Apartments and brandished the firearm with several people inside, Oak Ridge Police Department Lt. Matt Tedford said. A fight ensued, Tedford said.

The man fired one round outside, but it was not aimed at anyone, police said.

After the man barricaded himself inside his apartment, police set up a perimeter and started negotiations. The SWAT team was notified, and the man decided to come out of his apartment as the SWAT team arrived, Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi said. [Read more…]

Two taken to hospital after stabbing reported on Monday night

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Two Oak Ridge men were taken by ambulance to a hospital after a stabbing was reported on Monday night, authorities said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department responded to a reported disturbance in the Scarboro neighborhood at about 11:30 p.m. Monday. Roughly 20 people were reported to be in the street on South Benedict Avenue near the intersection with South Dillard Avenue, and some were allegedly intoxicated, the ORPD said in a press release.

When officers arrived, they found Kevin Steen, 48, of Oak Ridge, lying in the street with multiple contusions to the head and face, the press release said.

A second subject reportedly had been stabbed and left the scene. [Read more…]

TBI investigating alleged rape by police officer or security guard

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TBI Logo

State authorities are investigating an allegation by an adult female that she was raped by someone who appeared to be a police officer or security guard, the Oak Ridge Police Department said Wednesday afternoon.

The woman was interviewed by Oak Ridge police officers on Tuesday. The Police Department then contacted the Anderson County District Attorney General’s Office, which notified the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation of the allegation, the ORPD said.

TBI Public Information Officer Josh DeVine confirmed that the bureau is investigating the allegation, but he said he can’t discuss any details, including when and where the alleged rape is alleged to have occurred or whether it might involve a security guard or police officer.

“It’s very preliminary at this point,” DeVine said.

More information will be add as it becomes available.