SUSPICIOUS FIRE AT CREATION KINGDOM ZOO UNDER INVESTIGATION

AN OVERNIGHT FIRE WEDNESDAY AT CREATION KINGDOM ZOO IN GATE CITY IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. ACCORDING TO SCOTT COUNTY SHERIFF JEFF EADS, VIRGINIA STATE POLICE ARSON INVESTIGATORS HAVE BEEN CALLED TO INVESTIGATE THE SUSPICIOUS FIRE. VIRGINIA STATE POLICE CONFIRMED THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. CREATION KINGDOM ZOO WILL REPORTEDLY BE CLOSED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE DUE TO THE FIRE.

DOMESTIC ASSAULT AT CREEK RD RESIDENCE LEADS TO MULTIPLE CHARGES

AN ERWIN MAN WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY, AFTER WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO A CALL IN THE 100 BLOCK OF CREEK ROAD AT 1:30 AM. DEPUTIES MADE CONTACT WITH THE VICTIM WHO SAID SHE WAS DRINKING WITH 22 YEAR OLD RUSSELL KERN, WALKING DOWN ARNOLD ROAD HOLDING A HANDGUN. WHEN THEY GOT INTO A VERBAL ALTERCATION. KERN LOCKED HER OUT OF THE HOUSE WITH A JUVENILE ASLEEP INSIDE THE HOUSE. HE BEGAN TO BREAKING ITEMS IN THE HOUSE, KICK HOLES IN THE WALL, AND THREW A SKILLET AT THE DOOR. WHILE LEAVING THE HOME, KERN POINTED A GUN AT THE VICTIM. HE WAS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC ASSAULT, 3 COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ON A FIRST RESPONDER FOR FIRING IN THE VICINITY OF DEPUTIES, AND POSSESSION OF A OF A HANDGUN WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE. HE’S DUE IN COURT DECEMBER 2^ND.

MAN CRASHES INTO GARAGE WHILE EVADING POLICE

A JOHNSON CITY MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY EVADING POLICE AND CRASHING INTO A GARAGE. ACCORDING TO MAJOR JAMIE AISTROP WITH THE JONESBOROUGH POLICE DEPARTMENT, OFFICERS RECEIVED A CALL REGARDING A SILVER CADILLAC SEDAN APPROACHING CITY LIMITS ON EAST JACKSON BOULEVARD FROM JOHNSON CITY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED IN THE OPPOSITE LANE. OFFICERS ATTEMPTED A TRAFFIC STOP BUT THE VEHICLE FLED ON WEST JACKSON BOULEVARD AND PERSIMMON RIDGE ROAD. THE SUS[ECT REPORTEDLY CROSSED OVER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ALMOST HIT A POLICE CRUISER HEAD ON. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GARAGE AFTER FAILING TO STOP FOR A STOP SIGN. THE DRIVER IDENTIFIED AS 32 YEAR OLD MICHAEL FELT WAS CHARGED WITH EVADING ARREST, RECKLESS DRIVING, RED LIGHT VIOLATION, SIMPLE POSSESSION, DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

BRISTOL VA MAN ARRESTED AFTER SHOOTING

ONE PERSON WAS ARRESTED AFTER A SHOOTING IN BRISTOL VIRGINNIA TUESDAY. ACCORDING TO A RELEASE FROM THE BRISTOL POLICE DEPARTMENT, OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THE 1400 BLOCK OF ELM STREET REGARDING A SHOOTING JUST BEFORE 7 PM. WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED, THE VICTIM HAD LEFT THE SCENE. POLICE LOCATED 37 YEAR OLD JOSEPH DESANDRO WALKING NEAR THE AREA. HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR POSSESSION FO A SCHEDULE II DRUG. DURING AN INTERVIEW POLICE DETERMINED AN ARGUMENT OCCURRED BETWEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE AND WHEN THE VICTIM LEFT THE HOME AND WAS CONFRONTED BY DESANDRO WHO POLICE SAY WAS SHOT ONE TIME. THE VICTIM WAS FOUND ABOUT 3 HOURS LATER IN BRISTOL TENNESSEE. DESANDRO WAS CHARGED WITH MALICIOUS WOUNDING, USE OF A FIREARM IN THE COMMISSION OF A FELONY, POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON, RECKLESS HANDLING OF A FIREARM, POSSESSION OF A SCHEDULE II DRUG, AND PUBLIC INTOXICATION. HE’S SET TO APPEAR IN COURT DECEMBER 2^ND.

DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR SBA HELENE RELIEF LOANS

THE DEADLINE IS FAST APPROACHING FOR RENTERS, HOMEOWNERS, AND BUSINESS OWNERS SEEKING FEDERAL LOANS FOR PHYSICAL DAMAGE FOLLOWING HELENE. TIMOTHY WASTON, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SAID THE DEADLINE FOR RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS TO APPLY IS MONDAY DECEMBER 2^ND. THESE FEDERAL LOANS OFFER UP TO 100,000 DOLLARS FOR RENTERS NEEDING TO REPLACE INTERIOR CONTENTS AND UP TO 500,000 DOLLARS FOR HOMEOWNERS. ADDITIONAL FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR MITIGATION EFFORTS TO MAKE HOMES MORE STORM RESISTANT DURING REBUILDING. BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFITS CAN APPLY FOR LOANS UP TO 2 MILLION DOLLARS. APPLICANTS CAN REQUEST A 60 DAY EXTENSION IF MORE TIME IS NEEDED. THE DEADLINE FOR BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFITS IS JUNE 2^ND OF NEXT YEAR.

GREENE CO MAN FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES AFTER DRUGS & PIPE BOMB FOUND IN VEHICLE

A GREENE COUNTY MAN IS FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES FOLLOWING A TRAFFIC STOP TUESDAY NIGHT. THE VEHICLE DRIVEN BY THOMAS FRESHOUR WAS STOPPED AROUND 8:30 PM NEAR HIS HOME. A SEARCH LED TO THE DISCOVERY OF MARIJUANA, OVER A POUND OF METH, HEROIN, WHAT WAS BELIEVED TO BE FENTANYL, ALONG WITH VARIOUS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. OFFICERS ALSO FOUND A HANDGUN, A SCOPED RIFLE, A 12 GUAGE SHOTGUN AND A PIPE BOMB. FRESHOUR WAS CHARGED WITH POSSESSION FO A FIREARM DURING COMMISSION OF A FELONY, PROHIBITED WEAPON BY A FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON DRIVING WHILE IN POSSESSION OF METH, DELIVERY OR SALE OF SCHEDULE 2 AND 1 DRUGS, AND SIMPLE POSSESSION.

MIDWAY MAN WANTED SINCE OCTOBER TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

A MIDWAY MAN WANTED SINCE LATE OCTOBER WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AT HIS HOME ON CULVER DRIVE TUESDAY. 40 YEAR OLD DUSTIN OWEN IS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC ASSAULT AND FAILURE TO APPEAR. OWEN WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE DETENTION CENTER BY THE GREENE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT.

BURGLARY, VIOLATION OF PROBATION CHARGES FILED AGAINST GREENE CO MAN

A GREENE COUNTY MAN WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY MONDAY ON CHARGES RELATED TO THE BURGLARY OF A RESIDENCE NEAR HIS HOME ON BLAKE LANE. 25 YEAR OLD ZACHARY ROSE IS CHARGED ON AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT FOR VIOLATION OF PROBATION, BUT NOW ALSO FACES CHARGES OF BURGLARY AND POSSESSION OF A PROHIBITED WEAPON. ROSE WA REPORTEDLY SEEN ENTERING THE HOME BY ANOTHER NEIGHBOR SUNDAY MORNING. THE HOMEOWNER LATER REPORTED TO THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT THAT 50 DOLLARS IN QUARTERS AND 30 DOLLARS IN CASH HAD BEEN TAKEN. THE SUSPECT IS ALSO ALLEGED TO HAVE DAMAGED A DOOR OF THE SAME HOME WHILE TRYING TO GAIN ACCESS IN MARCH, AND TAKING ABOUT 4,000 DOLLARS FROM THE PROPERTY IN FEBRUARY.