December 23, 2001

Arrests

   * Ricky L. Peeks, 37, 303 Chambers Drive, was arrested Thursday by Carter County Sheriff's Department Deputy Todd Hamm following a traffic stop. Peeks was charged with second-offense DUI. A passenger, Rocky Adcox, 37, 252 Rasnick Hollow, Watauga, was charged with public intoxication. A quart of untaxed whiskey was found under the passenger seat of the vehicle.
   * Teddy Lee Berry, 41, 110 Hobson Road, Johnson City, was arrested Thursday by CCSD Deputy Terry Blevins on a warrant charging him with violation of probation.
   * Crystal J. Chambers, 30, 581 Hwy. 91, was arrested Thursday by CCSD Deputy Gene Moreland on a capias charging her with failure to serve jail time.
   * Gary Wayne Smallman, 30, 1319 Gibson St., Johnson City, was arrested Dec. 14 by officers of Johnson City Police Bureau on eight counts of fraudulent use of a credit card. According to a Dec. 20 press release, the arrest took place following investigation into Smallman fraudulently using a business account belonging to Cox Mechanical, 314 W. Main St. Smallman was found to have used the business account on eight different occasions to make purchases totaling $2,358.55. He was booked into Washington County Detention Center and a preliminary hearing was set for Jan. 3.
   * James E. Jump, 27, 815 N. North St., Johnson City, was arrested Friday by officers of Johnson City Police Bureau and charged with aggravated assault under domestic violence following investigation into the assault of Jump's girlfriend. The victim, who suffered a head injury, was transported to Johnson City Medical Center for treatment.
  
Fire

   * CCSD Sgt. Penny Cornett responded shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday to a chimney fire at the home of Arlene Absher, 48, 108 Little Stoney Creek. Absher told the officer the family had a fire going in the fireplace and noticed some loud crackling noises but could not determine the origin. A neighbor came to the door and told her that the chimney was on fire, Absher said. Stoney Creek Volunteer Fire Department responded. The fire started at the bottom of the chimney and climbed, according to the report. The amount of damage was unknown.
   * On Dec. 22, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office and Sullivan County and Avoca Volunteer Fire Departments responded to 1344 Massengill Road, Lot #1, Blountville, to a structure fire. While trying to contain the fire, firemen found the body of a male lying just inside the doorway of the trailer. Witnesses said the fire started in the kitchen area. A resident of the trailer park tried to enter the burning trailer but could not do so. The name of the victim will be released after the victim has been identified and family members are notified.