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Appeals court upholds 30-year robbery sentence

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A Tennessee appeals court this summer upheld a 30-year prison sentence against an Oliver Springs man convicted of aggravated robbery in Clinton, finding that the Anderson County trial court did not err in sentencing him as a career offender.

Wallace Wade Tidwell, 44, had been accused of robbing a Shell gas station on Charles Seivers Boulevard in Clinton in June 2015. A clerk testified at trial in April 2019 that Tidwell came out of the store’s bathroom, ordered her to give him the money in the cash register, lifted his shirt, and showed her what she thought was the butt of a gun in his waistband, according to a 14-page opinion filed by the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals in Knoxville.

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Records: Man shot last week has history of family disputes

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A 61-year-old Clinton man was injured in a shooting on Lee Lane on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 26, 2018, police said, after he reportedly came on to his son’s property with a loaded gun and fired several shots toward the house, reportedly over the positioning of a floodlight. The son exited his home and returned fire, striking his father once in the buttocks, police said. Police found the man on the ground in front of his home, pictured above. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A 61-year-old Clinton man was injured in a shooting on Lee Lane on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 26, 2018, police said, after he reportedly came on to his son’s property with a loaded gun and fired several shots toward the house, reportedly over the positioning of a floodlight. The son exited his home and returned fire, striking his father once in the buttocks, police said. Police found the man on the ground in front of his home, pictured above. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A 61-year-old Clinton man was injured in a shooting on Lee Lane on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 26, 2018, police said, after he reportedly came on to his son’s property with a loaded gun and fired several shots toward the house, reportedly over the positioning of a floodlight. The son exited his home and returned fire, striking his father once in the buttocks, police said. Police found the man on the ground in front of his home, pictured above. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Clinton man who was shot during a dispute with his son last week, reportedly over the positioning of a floodlight, has had other disputes with family members, including another one involving a firearm, according to Anderson County court records.

In one of the previous cases, the man who was shot, Terry Lee Crawford, 61, allegedly vandalized his sister’s house with a tractor in October, also because of a floodlight, the court records said. That case is pending in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton.

Before the alleged vandalism this year, Crawford had pleaded guilty to an assault against his sister and another victim in 2015—that case involved a firearm—and to an attempted assault against his son in 2016.

The incidents have involved three homes plus Crawford’s, all on Lee Lane in west Clinton, court records said.

Besides those cases, there is an indictment pending against Crawford for driving under the influence, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving.

It’s not clear what charges might be filed after last week’s shooting. Crawford was taken to the hospital after the shooting. He was booked into the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on Monday. But affidavits, which include specific charges and brief descriptions of alleged crimes, were not available on Tuesday.

On Thursday, the day after the shooting, the district attorney general’s office called Crawford a “danger to society” and asked that his bond be revoked or increased in two of the previous cases. The motion appears to have been successful, at least for now; Crawford’s bond has been set at $1.7 million, an unusually large bond, and he remained in custody on Tuesday night, according to Anderson County jail records.

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Updated: Man injured in Clinton shooting

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A Clinton man was injured in a shooting on Lee Lane on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 26, 2018, police said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A Clinton man was injured in a shooting on Lee Lane on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 26, 2018, police said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11 a.m. Dec. 27.

CLINTON—A Clinton man was injured in a shooting on Wednesday afternoon, police said.

The shooting was reported at about 4:42 p.m. Wednesday near the intersection of Lee Lane and State Route 61, which connects Oak Ridge and Clinton. It involved a dispute between a father and his son, and the father was shot in the buttocks, police said. The two men were reported to have been shooting at each other in a yard at that intersection.

When officers arrived, they found Terry Lee Crawford, 61, on the ground in front of his home. Crawford’s home is next to his son’s home, where the shooting occurred. Crawford was bleeding from an apparent gunshot wound, the Clinton Police Department said. He was taken by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. He was in stable condition on Thursday morning, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

Clinton Police Chief Vaughn Becker told WYSH Radio on Thursday that the elder Crawford had run back to his own property before collapsing in his yard. [Read more…]

Warrants: Clinton man arrested after AC man shot in leg, stomach

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Alexander William Carter

Alexander William Carter

 

A Clinton man has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault and reckless endangerment after an Anderson County man was allegedly shot in the stomach and left leg after an argument early Monday morning, court records said.

The shooting was reported at about 3:30 a.m. Monday on Leach Lane in Anderson County, north of Clinton and west of Highway 25.

The injuries to the male victim, Nathan Robert Gifford, appeared to be non-life threatening, according to a Monday press release from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. Gifford was alert and taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, where he had to have a surgery to treat his injuries, the press release said.

Warrants filed in the case said the alleged shooter, Alexander William Carter, 20, had been arguing with Gifford, who lives in the Leach Lane home, when Gifford told Carter to leave.

Carter left but returned less than five minutes later and started shooting, said the warrants, which cited Gifford. One bullet struck Gifford in the stomach, and another round hit him in the left leg, the warrants said. [Read more…]

CPD Chief Scarbrough moving to UT’s Law Enforcement Innovation Center

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Rick Scarbrough

Rick Scarbrough

Rick Scarbrough is leaving the Clinton Police Department after 16 years as chief. Scarbrough has accepted a position as executive director of the University of Tennessee’s Law Enforcement Innovation Center.

On Tuesday, the City of Clinton said it announced the departure with mixed emotions.

“When I say mixed emotions, I’m excited for the opportunity my friend has, but as city manager, I obviously hate to lose him as our police chief,” Clinton City Manager Roger Houck said in a press release.

Houck said he and Scarbrough have discussed the possibility the chief could be leaving, and they both think Assistant Chief Vaughn Becker is ready for the opportunity.

“We have had a succession plan in place for some time,” Houck said. Becker will become the interim Clinton police chief effective August 1. [Read more…]

Clinton man sentenced to 30 years in death of mother fleeing dispute

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Kieth William Pittman

Kieth William Pittman

 

CLINTON—A Clinton man was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Thursday for the 2014 stabbing death of a mother trying to flee a domestic dispute.

Kieth William Pittman, 28, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-degree murder and a second charge of tampering with evidence. He was sentenced to 25 years on the second-degree murder charge and five years on the tampering with evidence charge.

The sentences must be served consecutively, meaning Pittman has an effective 30-year sentence, Anderson County Criminal Court Judge Don Elledge said during a plea agreement hearing in Clinton on Thursday.

The victim, Heather McKamey, 22, was a mother of three boys. She and Pittman had two of the boys together.

McKamey was stabbed outside her apartment at 301 Park Avenue in north Clinton after an argument between her and Pittman became physical at about 2:25 a.m. Saturday, April 19, 2014, according to police reports and an affidavit filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton.

“While both the victim (McKamey) and suspect (Pittman) were in the driveway, the suspect stabbed the victim in the stomach with the knife he had taken from the kitchen,” according to the affidavit, filed by Clinton Police Department Detective Sergeant Russell Barker. “Witnesses advised the victim fled down Park Avenue to McAdoo Street yelling for help, and the suspect chased her.” [Read more…]

Hearing scheduled for OS man charged in two store robberies

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Wallace Wade Tidwell

Wallace Wade Tidwell

 

A hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday for an Oliver Springs man charged in two store robberies in Clinton.

The first robbery was reported at the Clinton BP on North Charles Seivers Boulevard on June 13, 2015, and the second was reported at Rocky Top Market in Clinton on July 19, 2016.

Wallace Wade Tidwell III, 38, of Kingston Avenue in Oliver Springs, is charged with aggravated robbery in the first case, and robbery in the second. A hearing for him has been set for 1 p.m. Wednesday, December 7, in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Clinton.

In the first case, the robbery reported at Clinton BP in June 2015, Tidwell allegedly came out of the bathroom, approached a store clerk behind the counter, and demanded money from the cash register—after telling the clerk he “had a bad day,” according to an affidavit filed in General Sessions Court. [Read more…]

Anderson County Ally of the Year for 2016: Becky Grubb

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Anderson-County-Allies-of-the-Year-2016

2016 Anderson County Ally of the Year First Runner-up Theresa Scott, Ally of the Year Becky Grubb, and Second Runner-up Kim Pouncey are pictured above. (Submitted photo)

Becky Grubb has been named the 2016 Anderson County Ally of the Year.

The award is given by Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, or ASAP, and it recognizes Grubb’s passion for creating a healthy and productive Anderson County, a press release said.

Grubb is the office manager at Fox Toyota, where she works with her family. She and her husband Stanley are active members of Grace Baptist Church, where they serve as greeters and small group home hosts. They have served with Lost Sheep Ministries in Knoxville for the past 12 years, assisting the homeless, and have taken several mission trips with Jesus Centered Ministries. Grubb is also a member of the Clinton Civitan Club, the press release said. She and Stanley have three children and four grandchildren. [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…]

CPD honors Officer of the Year, ‘Top Guns’

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Information from WYSH Radio

Sgt. Jim Campbell was recently recognized as the Clinton Police Department’s 2012/2013 Officer of The Year. This is Campbell’s second “Officer of The Year” award, having also earned the honor in 2005.

Among several administrative duties, Campbell also serves as the CPD’s training coordinator. He has been with the department since 2003. Chief Rick Scarbrough presented the award to Campbell at the annual police “range day” celebration, held Thursday, Oct. 24.

The CPD’s “Top Guns” were also recognized during the first annual “range day” pistol competition. Most of the department’s full-time and reserve officers participated. The top five were: [Read more…]

Clinton woman dies after apparently jumping from fourth-floor window

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A Clinton woman died after apparently jumping from a fourth-floor apartment window at the Charles Seivers Towers on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

Lisa K. Saylor, 55, a resident of the apartment complex, was reportedly dead when emergency medical personnel arrived, the Clinton Police Department said in a news release. [Read more…]

Clinton man convicted of child rape

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Information from WYSH Radio

A Clinton man was convicted by an Anderson County jury on Wednesday on one of the three counts of child rape against him.

Michael David Hernandez, 44, was taken into custody, where he will remain until his sentencing on June 10 in Anderson County Criminal Court. [Read more…]