January
28, 2002
Arrests
* Michael Justin Hensley, 21, 106 Orchard Drive,
Unicoi, was arrested Wednesday by Elizabethton Police Department
Sgt. Roger Crowe following a vehicle stop. Hensley was charged
with driving on revoked license and was issued a citation
for going the wrong way through the Covered Bridge.
* Rusty L. Rumley, 20, 633 Rock Hill Road, Watauga,
was arrested Thursday by Carter County Sheriff's Department
Deputy Janice Mitchell after she and Lt. Rocky Croy received
information that Rumley was wanted in Washington County, Va.
on felony warrants for grand larceny and theft of firearms.
He was arrested and charged with being a fugitive from justice,
then transported to Carter County Jail to await extradition.
* Crystal M. Suit, 19, 360 Sneed Hill Road, was
arrested Friday by CCSD Deputy Eric Buck and charged with
failure to appear on driving on suspended license.
* Robert David Sproles II, 20, 1701 Galen Drive,
Johnson City, was arrested Wednesday by officers of Johnson
City Police Bureau and charged with 17 counts of forgery,
aggravated burglary and two counts of theft over $1,000. The
arrest followed investigation into a burglary at 1904 Water's
Edge Drive, Johnson City.
* Christopher A. Mitchell, 18, 309 North Road,
Johnson City, and four juveniles were arrested around 2:30
a.m. Thursday by officers of Johnson City Police Bureau following
investigation into an incident on King Springs Road. Mitchell
was charged with felony vandalism.
* Joshua Branche, 22, 100 Milligan Lane, and
Josh Reynolds, 18, 322 Highland Ave., were arrested Thursday
by officers of Johnson City Police Bureau following investigation
into Dec. 30-31 burglaries at local businesses. Each were
charged with two counts of burglary.
* Frankie Hughes, 22, 1215 W. Main St., Johnson
City, was arrested Wednesday by officers of Johnson City Police
Bureau following investigation into an auto burglary and forgeries
that occurred Jan. 11 in Johnson City. Hughes was charged
with auto burglary, theft under $500, and three counts of
forgery under $500.
Burglary
* Danny Howell, 44, 1824 Powder Branch Road,
reported Thursday to CCSD Sgt. Tim Lowe that someone stole
a Homelite generator, Stihl chainsaw, pressure washer with
Honda motor, and a battery charger from a barn on the property.
* Kathy Bunten, 39, 107 Milligan Ave., Johnson
City, reported Thursday to CCSD Lt. Rocky Croy that someone
entered her vehicle and took a Pioneer stereo.
* Herman Richardson, 64, 1976 Hwy. 91, reported
Friday to CCSD Deputy Matt Lunceford that someone stopped
by his residence and advised him there was glass lying in
the parking lot of his business, H&R Package. Upon arrival,
Deputy Lunceford noted items lying in the floor throughout
the business. Richardson said about $30 was taken from the
register along with an undetermined amount of beer, cigarettes
and other items. Entry was made by breaking out the glass
in the front door.
Deaths
* FBI agents along with officers of Virginia
Beach Police Department raided a Virginia Beach, Va., residence
Wednesday to serve a second-degree murder warrant on Waddel
"Skinny" Snipes Jr., 32, 2248 Melfield Drive, Haw River, N.C.
Snipes was wanted by Johnson City Police Bureau in connection
with the Oct. 21 shooting and murder of Defadrus Hale Jr.
at the Cherry Street parking lot in Johnson City. Upon raiding
the residence at 1832 S. Streamline, Virginia Beach, a black
male, identified as Snipes, ran into a back room of the house.
Officers heard a gunshot and upon entering the room, found
Snipes on the floor with a gunshot wound to the chest. Snipes
was pronounced dead at a Virginia Beach hospital.
* Officers of Johnson City Police Bureau responded
Thursday to 1907 E. Myrtle Ave., regarding a death investigation.
When officers arrived, they found Joseph G. Racanelli, 39,
lying in the floor of the living room at the residence, deceased.
The investigation is continuing, however, no foul play was
suspected at the time of the report. Racanelli's body was
taken to Johnson City Medical Center for autopsy.
