WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20
360 GRAMS OF MARIJUANA & OVER $38K IN CASH SEIZED
WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES SEIZED 360 GRAMS OF MARIJUANA AND 38,120 DOLLARS IN CASH MONDAY. ACCORDING TO SHERIFF KEITH SEXTON, DEPUTIES PATROLLING THE AREA OF KINGSPORT HIGHWAY AND MARY STREET STOPPED A VEHICLE FOR SPEEDING. THEY DISCOVERED THREE LARGE CONTAINERS FULL OF MARIJUANA, WITH POST IT STICKERS ON BAGS LABELING DIFFERENT VARIETIES. THE CONTENTS OF THE CONTAINERS WERE SENT TO THE TBI’S CRIME LAB FOR PROPER IDENTIFICATION. THE CASH WAS FOUND INSIDE A BACKPACK IN THE VEHICLE. A SEIZURE HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 21ST AND CHARGES ARE PENDING.
KINGSPORT IMPROVING NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER
THE CITY OF KINGSPORT ANNOUNCED TUESDAY IT’S IMPROVING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT’S NON-EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT’S NEW AUTOMATED SYSTEM IS SCHEDULED TO GO INTO EFFECT ON AUGUST 26TH. WHEN RESIDENTS CALL THE NUMBER 423-246-9111, AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE A SERIES OF OPTIONS FOR CALLERS TO SELECT, INCLUDING WATER CUSTOMER SERVICE, PUBLIC WORKS, NON-EMERGENCY CONCERNS FOR POLICE AND FIRE, KINGSPORT JAIL, POLICE RECORDS AND CITY HALL. RESIDENTS SHOULD STILL CALL 911 FOR EMERGENCIES WHEN THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE, HEALTH OR PROPERTY.
BRISTOL BOE POSTPONES VOTE ON MELROSE PROPERTY
THE BRISTOL TENNESSEE BOARD OF EDUCATION POSTPONED A VOTE TO ACCEPT OWNERSHIP OF A CITY OWNED FACILITY ON MELROSE STREET. THE PROPERTY, WAS PURCHASED BY THE CITY IN 2022 FOR A NEW RECREATION CENTER. CITY AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN IN TALKS ABOUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM’S USE OF THE FACILITY BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM’S ATHLETIC TEAMS. IN MAY THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION INFORMED THE CITY COUNCIL THAT UNTIL AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED REGARDING THE MELROSE FACILITY, THEY WOULD NOT BE SIGNING A SEPARATE AGREEMENT REGARDING THE RENOVATION OF TODD HOUSTON FIELD FOR USE BY THE BRISTOL STATE LINERS AND TENNESSEE HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM. LAST WEEK THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF THE MELROSE PROPERTY TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE TRANSFER WAS PUT ON HOLD UNTIL IT COULD BE STUDIED FURTHER.
EFFORT TO REMOVE PLANNING COMMISSIONER FAILS
AN EFFORT TO REMOVED CARTER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSIONER GAR BAILEY FAILED MONDAY NIGHT. COMMISSIONER TODD SMITH’S MOTION FAILED TO GET A SECOND. THE DECISION CAME AFTER TWO HOURS OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND DISCUSSION SURROUNDING AN EXCAVATION PROJECT BY BAKER CONSTRUCTION ON BAILEY’S LAND, THAT STATE DOCUMENTS HAVE CALLED BOTH A QUARRY AND A BORROW PIT. THE PROJECT NEVER WENT BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A VOTE, THOUGH COUNTY OFFICIALS SAID IT ISN’T REQUIRED. UNDER A STATE LAW PASSED IN APRIL, COMMISSIONERS COULD HAVE REMOVED BAILEY WITH A TWO-THIRDS VOTE. THE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE A REASON.
UNICOI CO SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT WARNS RESIDENTS OF SCAM
THE UNICOI COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT SAYS SCAMMERS ARE ONCE AGAIN TARGETING RESIDENTS IN THE REGION. AUTHORITIES SAID A CALLER IS IMPERSONATING CAPTAIN JEFFERY GREENE IN AN ATTEMPT TO DECEIVE VICTIMS INTO DIVULGING PERSONAL INFORMATION. DEPUTIES NOTED THAT THE SCAMMERS NUMBER DOES NOT APPEAR ON CALLER ID. SHERIFF MIKE HENSLEY EMPHASIZED NO OFFICER WILL EVER ASK FOR PRIVATE DETAILS OVER THE PHONE. HENSLEY ADVISED IF YOU GET A CALL LIKE THIS TO HANG UP IMMEDIATELY AND CONTACT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE.
SCOTT CO TN MAN ACCUSED IF TRYING TO BLOW UP A WALMART
A COTT COUNTY TENNESSEE MAN FACES CHARGES INCLUDING TERRORISM, AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF TRYING TO BLOW UP AN ONEIDA WALMART. 52-YEAR-OLD MARTIN ROBBINS FACES CHARGES OF TERRORISM, AGGRAVATED ARSON AND RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT AFTER AN INCIDENT MONDAY. COURT RECORDS SHOW THAT WALMART EMPLOYEES NOTICED A FIRE BY A PROPANE STATION. AFTER REVIEWING SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SAW A TRUCK STOP IN FRONT OF THE STATION WHILE THE DRIVER LIT AN OBJECT ON FIRE AND THREW IT OUT THE WINDOW BEFORE DRIVING OFF. DURING A SEARCH OF ROBBIN’S TRUCK AUTHORITIES FOUND A BOTTLE FULL OF FUEL WITH PAPER TOWELS HANGING OUT, WHICH COURT RECORDS DESCRIBED AS AN INCENDIARY DEVISE. ROBBINS TOLD AUTHORITIES HE WAS BEING SPIED ON BY THE CHINESE AND WANTED TO BE IN THE CUSTODY OF THE UNITED STATES.
TENNESSEE NATIONAL GUARD ASSISTING WITH DC FEDERAL TAKEOVER
THE TENNESSEE NATIONAL GUARD HAS BEEN DEPLOYED TO WASHINGTON D.C. TO HELP WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP’S FEDERAL TAKEOVER OF THE NATION’S CAPITAL. IN A POST ON X, DC COUNCILMEMBER BROOKE PINTO WROTE THAT 1,000 SOLDIERS FROM THE VOLUNTEER STATE, WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO, LOUISIANA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND MISSISSIPPI WERE SET TO ARRIVE IN D.C. SUNDAY. GOVERNOR BILL LEE PREVIOUSLY TOLD REPORTERS HE OFFERED UP THE TENNESSEE NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP WITH THE FEDERAL TAKEOVER OF D.C. GOVERNOR LEE SAID ABOUT 160 SERVICE MEMBERS WERE SENT TO THE CAPITOL. HOWEVER, IT’S NOT CLEAR HOW LONG THEY’LL STAY.
GREENE CO COMMISSION APPROVED RESOLUTION 20-0
GREENE COUNTY COMMISSIONS AS A WHOLE VOICED DISPLEASURE WITH A RECENT DECISION BY THE STATE THAT OVER 1.3 MILLION DOLLARS IN LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX BE WITHHELD FROM THE TOWN OF GREENEVILLE AND GREENE COUNTY, DUE TO STATE MISTAKE FOUR YEARS AGO. BUT IN THE END, THE 20 COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE VOTED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE STATE WITHHOLDING THE MONEY RELATED TO THE ACCOUNTING ISSUE BY THE STATE IN 2021. ALTHOUGH REQUIRED, THE VOTE SEEMED A BIT AFTER THE FACT, AS THE FIRST WITHHOLD OF THE MONEY OVER A THREE-MONTH PERIOD HAD ALREADY BEGUN. BECAUSE OF A FINANCIAL MISTAKE BY STATE AUDITORS IN 2021, GREENEVILLE AND GREENE COUNTY OWE A COMBINED 1.3 MILLION DOLLARS IN LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX MONIES BACK TO THE STATE OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.
BRISTOL MAN CHARGED WITH FALSE REPORTS AGAINST BTPD OFFICERS
A BRISTOL TENNESSEE MAN WAS CHARGED WITH FILING FALSE REPORTS AFTER AN INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING OFFICERS WITH THE BRISTOL TENNESSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT. ACCORDING TO A NEWS RELEASE FROM THE TBI, CHRISTOPHER COFFEY HAS BEEN INDICTED ON TWO COUNTS OF FALSE REPORTS AFTER AN INVESTIGATION INTO RAPE AND HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. TBI SPECIAL AGENTS BEGAN AN INVESTIGATION INVOLVING OFFICERS IN OCTOBER 2024. COFFEY CLAIMED AN OFFICER SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HIM WHILE SEARCHING HIM AT THE SULLIVAN COUNTY JAIL. COFFEY LATER REPORTED BRISTOL OFFICERS HAD HARASSED HIM ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AT HIS HOME. THE INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE ALLEGATIONS WERE FALSE. A GRAND JURY RETURNED INDICTMENTS AGAINST COFFEY ON AUGUST 6TH.
BRISTOL VA CREWS RESPOND TO FIRE AT GOLDEN CORRAL
CREWS IN BRISTOL VIRGINIA RESPONDED TO A FIRE AT GOLDEN CORRAL TUESDAY MORNING. ACCORDING TO A RELEASE FROM THE BRISTOL VIRGINIA FIRE DEPARTMENT, CREWS RESPONDED TO A COMMERCIAL FIRE JUST AFTER 8:30 AM. THE FIRE WAS REPORTEDLY FOUND IN THE KITCHEN AREA AND INVOLVED A GREASE FRYER. THE FIRE WAS QUICKLY CONTROLLED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, CREWS FOUND MINOR EXTENSION THROUGH THE CEILING AREA BETWEEN THE CEILING AND ROOF OF THE STRUCTURE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. CAUSE OF THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE ACCIDENTAL.
ETSU TO INCREASE USE OF DOWNTOWN CENTRE
MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER LEASING JOHNSON CITY’S DOWNTOWN CENTRE, EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY IS SET TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE 37,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING’S CLASSROOM SPACE. ETSU PROVOST KIMBERLY MCCORKLE SAID THERE WERE SOME LABS THAT THE FACULTY WERE USING AND SOME STUDENTS WHO WORK IN THE LABS, BUT DUE TO AN INFLUX OF STUDENTS AND RENOVATIONS AT BROWN HALL. ETSU’S PRIMARY SCIENCE BUILDING, MCCORKLE SAID THEY WILL HAVE A LOT OF SCIENCE CLASSES, SCIENCE LABS THAT WILL BE CONDUCTED AT THE DOWNTOWN CENTRE. STUDENT CLASSES BEGIN THE WEEK OF AUGUST 25TH.
JOHNSON CITY MAN CHARGED WITH SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR
A JOHNSON CITY MAN ARRESTED IN JUNE WAS RECENTLY INDICTED BY A FEDERAL GRAND JURY. ON JUNE 4TH 22-YEAR-OLD JESSIE LEWTER WAS CHARGED WITH SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR. THE JOHNSON CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT FOR HIS ELECTRONIC DEVICES. INVESTIGATORS FOUND CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT MATERIAL ON THE DEVICES. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED SELF-PRODUCED CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT MATERIAL. LEWTER WAS TAKEN INTO FEDERAL CUSTODY ON AUGUST 11TH FOR PRODUCTION OF A MINOR ENGAGED IN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT AND ONLINE ENTICEMENT/INDUCING A MINOR TO ENGAGE IN PROSTITUTION BY USE OF A MEANS OF INTERSTATE COMMERCE. HE WAS INDICTED BY A FEDERAL GRAND JURY AUGUST 12TH.
JOHNSON CITY MAN CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR
A JOHNSON CITY MAN ARRESTED IN APRIL IS ALSO FACING FEDERAL CHARGES. ON APRIL 15TH, JOHNSON CITY POLICE ARRESTED 52-YEAR-OLD RONNIE MILLER ON CHARGES OF AGGRAVATED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR. THE ARREST RESULTED FROM A JCPD SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT INVESTIGATION INTO A TIP FROM THE TBI SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY. INVESTIGATORS DISCOVERED TWO CELL PHONES, THREE MEMORY CARDS, AND THREE USB DRIVES IN MILLER’S POSSESSION THAT CONTAINED IMAGES AND VIDEOS OF CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT MATERIAL. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED MILLER HAD MORE THAN 1,000 IMAGES OF CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT MATERIAL. HE WAS INDICTED BY A FEDERAL GRAND JURY AUGUST 12TH ON CHARGES OF POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY INVOLVING A PRE-PUBESCENT MINOT OR MINOR UNDER THE AGE OF 12.Bottom of Form
