TBI Archives - Oak Ridge Today

TBI identifies man killed in officer-involved shooting

Posted at 10:51 am October 9, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has identified the man who died in a Monday night officer-involved shooting at Anderson County General Sessions Court on Emory Valley Road as Isaiah D. Ramirez, 26. Above, police investigate after a chase was reported along Emory Valley Road and there were reports of shots fired on Monday evening, Oct. 8, 2018. The parking lot at Anderson County General Sessions Court on Emory Valley Road was blocked off with yellow tape, and there was a large emergency response presence that included members of the Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Anderson County EMS, and District Attorney General Dave Clark, right. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was last updated at 11:55 a.m.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has identified the man who died in a Monday night officer-involved shooting in a courthouse parking lot on Emory Valley Road in Oak Ridge.

The man has been identified as Isaiah D. Ramirez, 36.

Ramirez was reported to have struck an Oak Ridge police officer with a pickup truck before at least one officer fired shots at the vehicle, striking Ramirez, the TBI said Monday night.

The shooting near Anderson County General Sessions Court and other county offices followed a police pursuit that started on Cumberland View Drive along Emory Valley Road in east Oak Ridge at about 6:30 p.m. Monday, authorities said. The Oak Ridge Police Department tried to make a traffic stop, but Ramirez, who was pulling a utility trailer behind his pickup truck, didn’t stop, according to TBI spokesperson Leslie Earhart. Ramirez reportedly had outstanding warrants. Residents of Emory Valley reported a police pursuit involving at least four police cars. [Read more…]

Man dies in police shooting after striking officer with vehicle

Posted at 11:16 pm October 8, 2018
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Police are investigating after a chase was reported along Emory Valley Road and there were reports of shots fired on Monday evening, Oct. 8, 2018. The parking lot at Anderson County General Sessions Court on Emory Valley Road is blocked off with yellow tape, and there is a large emergency response presence that includes members of the Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Anderson County EMS, and District Attorney General Dave Clark, right. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A man who struck an Oak Ridge police officer with a vehicle died when at least one officer shot at him in the parking lot of Anderson County General Sessions Court on Emory Valley Road on Monday evening, Oct. 8, 2018, authorities said. The vehicle that struck an officer and was shot into is facing toward the camera at top right-center between an Oak Ridge Police Department SUV and an Oak Ridge Transit bus. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was last updated at 9 a.m. Oct. 9.

A man who struck an Oak Ridge police officer with a vehicle died when at least one officer shot at him in a courthouse parking lot on Monday evening, authorities said.

The police pursuit and shooting started in a residential area along Emory Valley Road and ended at Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge. It was reported at about 6:30 p.m. Monday.

The Oak Ridge Police Department had recognized a man in a vehicle who had outstanding warrants on Cumberland View Drive in east Oak Ridge and tried to make a traffic stop, said Leslie Earhart, public information officer for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The man reportedly had warrants for domestic assault and aggravated burglary. [Read more…]

TBI investigating shooting that involved officer on Emory Valley Road

Posted at 8:52 pm October 8, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Police are investigating after a chase was reported along Emory Valley Road and there were reports of shots fired on Monday evening, Oct. 8, 2018. The parking lot at Anderson County General Sessions Court on Emory Valley Road is blocked off with yellow tape, and there is a large emergency response presence that includes members of the Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Anderson County EMS, and District Attorney General Dave Clark, right. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was updated at 9 p.m.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has agents and forensic scientists on the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Monday along Emory Valley Road in Oak Ridge, a spokesperson said.

Update (11:45 p.m.): A man who struck an Oak Ridge police officer with a vehicle died when at least one officer opened fire in a courthouse parking lot on Monday evening, authorities said. See newer story here.

The incident on Monday evening, which was said to have included a police pursuit and shots fired, was reported in areas along Emory Valley Road, including a residential neighborhood and the parking lot of Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II. The courthouse parking lot was blocked off with yellow police/fire tape on Monday evening, and members of the Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Anderson County EMS, and District Attorney General Dave Clark were there.

At about 8:30 p.m. Monday, TBI spokesperson Leslie Earhart said she was on her way to provide more information when possible. [Read more…]

Rocky Top woman charged with homicide in death of 83-year-old

Posted at 12:18 am September 2, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Christy Viola Comer

Note: This story was updated at 1:20 p.m. September 3.

A Rocky Top woman has been arrested and charged with homicide in the death of an 83-year-old man, state authorities said.

Christy Viola Comer, 37, was arrested by special agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, with help from several local law enforcement agencies, a TBI press release said.

On Friday morning, authorities found the body of J.C. Copeland outside of his home in the 600 block of Jacksboro Avenue in Rocky Top. TBI agents started investigating at the request of Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark and with help from the Rocky Top Police Department, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, and Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force. [Read more…]

Two Maryville men accused of pretending to be licensed contractors

Posted at 11:00 am July 11, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Jonathan Presley

Two Maryville men have been indicted after being accused of pretending to be licensed contractors in Anderson County, authorities said.

Before the indictments announced Tuesday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation had investigated a complaint of contractor fraud involving EPM Handyman Services. The business is owned by Jonathan Presley, 37, and Warren Presley, 45, both of Maryville. The investigation, which started in August 2017, was requested by Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark.

“During the course of the investigation, agents learned the men were paid to build a garage at a location in Anderson County in April 2017 but never completed the job,” the TBI said in a press release Tuesday. “The investigation further revealed that the men were not licensed contractors authorized to conduct this type of business.” [Read more…]

Exclusive: Cromwell, co-defendants sentenced to 20-50 years for fraudulent liens

Posted at 2:38 pm June 30, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge resident Lee Harold Cromwell, 68, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on 28 counts of forgery and filling fraudulent liens during a hearing in criminal court in Nashville on Wednesday, June 27, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge resident Lee Harold Cromwell, 68, was sentenced on 28 counts of forgery and filling fraudulent liens during a criminal court hearing in Nashville on Wednesday, June 27, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

NASHVILLE—Five East Tennessee men who have been identified as “sovereign citizens,” including one from Oak Ridge and another from Clinton, were sentenced to 20-50 years in prison on Wednesday after filing fraudulent liens worth hundreds of millions of dollars against public officials, law enforcement officers, and others.

The five defendants—who included Austin Gary Cooper, 69, of Clinton, and Lee Harold Cromwell, 68, of Oak Ridge—had earlier been convicted of more than 200 counts of forgery and filing unlawful liens. That was at the end of a six-day trial in Davidson County Criminal Court in Nashville in late April.

Their sentencing hearing was Wednesday. It lasted more than three hours.

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Jail death probed by TBI

Posted at 12:40 pm April 10, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of an inmate at the Anderson County Detention Facility that occurred in March.

Preliminary investigations have not turned up anything suspicious, according to the TBI, but their investigation is ongoing.

Patricia Jones, 53, of Oliver Springs was booked into the jail on March 17 on charges of forgery and theft filed by the Oliver Springs Police Department. Jones was found dead inside her cell the following day, March 18, by a jailer who checked on her after noticing that she had stopped snoring, and found her unresponsive. [Read more…]

Former probation officer indicted in TBI rape investigation

Posted at 3:51 pm April 9, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Bryant Thomas

An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has led to the indictment of a former probation officer on a rape charge, authorities said Monday.

TBI special agents began investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against Bryant L. Thomas, 30, in February 2017 at the request of Seventh District Attorney General Dave Clark in Anderson County, a press release said.

At that time, Thomas was employed as a probation parole officer with the Tennessee Department of Correction, the press release said. [Read more…]

TBI identifies man who died in officer-involved shooting in Clinton on Wednesday

Posted at 1:15 pm November 9, 2017
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Roger Raymond York Jr.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has identified the man who died in an officer-involved shooting in Clinton on Wednesday as Roger Raymond York Jr.

York, 32, is listed as having a Clinton address in Anderson County jail records.

He died after he fired a weapon at Clinton Police Department officers on East Drive in Clinton on Wednesday night, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. One of the officers fired back, hitting York, who died, according to preliminary information from the TBI.

The three Clinton Police Department officers were not injured, the TBI said. The three officers were at the home in the 1000 block of East Drive after receiving information that a man with outstanding warrants was at the residence, the TBI said. [Read more…]

Preliminary information: Man dies after firing at officers & officer returns fire

Posted at 2:29 am November 9, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation responded to a shooting involving an officer on East Drive in Clinton, the TBI said late Wednesday night, Nov. 8, 2017.

A man fired a weapon at officers on East Drive in Clinton on Wednesday night, and one of the officers fired back, hitting the man, who died, according to preliminary information from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The three Clinton Police Department officers were not injured, the TBI said. The three officers were at the home in the 1000 block of East Drive after receiving information that a male subject with outstanding warrants was at the residence, the TBI said.

“Upon arrival, officers confirmed the individual was at the home and attempted to take him into custody,” the TBI said. “The subject attempted to evade officers by climbing out a window. At some point during the encounter, the subject fired a weapon at officers, which resulted in one of the officers returning fire, striking the subject. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The officers were not injured.” [Read more…]

TBI investigating officer-involved shooting in Clinton

Posted at 1:29 am November 9, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation responded to a shooting involving an officer on East Drive in Clinton, the TBI said late Wednesday night, Nov. 8, 2017.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation responded to a shooting involving an officer on East Drive in Clinton, the TBI said late Wednesday night.

The TBI said agents had responded to the shooting before midnight Wednesday.

TBI spokesperson Leslie Earhart said a statement would be posted later this morning on Twitter and tbinewsroom.com.

East Drive is near the intersection of State Route 61 (North Charles J. Seivers Boulevard) and J.D. Yarnell Industrial Parkway in Clinton. [Read more…]

TBI: Clinton man indicted, accused of threatening three judges

Posted at 5:17 pm October 6, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Ronald Taylor

A Clinton man indicted by a grand jury this week is accused of threatening three judges, authorities said.

The indictment was announced Friday by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. An investigation by TBI special agents led to the indictment, a press release said.

The investigation started in November 2016 at the request of Seventh District Attorney General Dave Clark, the TBI said.

“TBI special agents began investigating threats made against three Anderson County judges,” the press release said. “The investigation revealed that Ronald Jennings Taylor, 52, wrote letters and mailed them to numerous individuals. In the letters, Taylor threatened to harm the judges.” [Read more…]