February
10, 2002
Arrests
* Two Johnson County residents have been
arrested by members of the First Judicial District Drug Task
Force and Johnson County Sheriff's Department on charges of
manufacturing methamphetamine. According to DTF Director Kenneth
Phillips, Douglas Slagle, 35, 834 Chestnut Dr., Mountain City,
and Sherry Rowland, 37, same address, each were charged with
one count of manufacturing Schedule II narcotics. Both were
being held in Johnson County Jail under $50,000 bond with
preliminary hearings set for March 6, in Johnson County General
Sessions Court. The arrests came after members of DTF and
the sheriff's department executed a search warrant at the
residence. Cleanup was done by HEPACO. Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Mountain
City Police and Fire Departments also assisted in the investigation.
* Troy Ray Hughes, 26, 257 Heaton Creek Rd., Roan Mountain,
was arrested Friday by Carter County Sheriff's Department
Deputy Todd Hamm after the officer responded to Sycamore Shoals
Emergency Room regarding an assault. The victim told the officer
that she was assaulted by her ex-fiance at his residence in
Roan Mountain after taking their 8-month-old daughter to the
residence to allow him to visit with her. The victim said
Hughes had been drinking and she did not want to leave the
baby alone with him, so she stayed also. After the visit,
the victim drove her daughter home and Hughes rode along.
The victim dropped her daughter off with relatives and drove
Hughes back home, where an argument ensued regarding his drinking
around the child. The victim said Hughes began pushing her
and then grabbed her, at which time she struck him to defend
herself. Hughes then shoved her into a chair on which she
struck her head and blacked out for several minutes. She awoke
with him standing over her, and reportedly was unable to stand
for several minutes. Upon leaving the residence, she returned
home and was driven to Sycamore Shoals Hospital Emergency
Room for treatment. The victim had a large bruise on her left
hand, believed to be a defensive wound, and a visible red
mark on the back of her head. Hughes was charged in a warrant
with assault under domestic violence and was later arrested.
* Jose Nicholes Alvarado, 23, 1891 Hwy. 91, was arrested Thursday
by Elizabethton Police Department Ptl. Jack Ramsey after the
officer was dispatched to Sycamore Shoals Hospital Emergency
Room regarding a disorderly subject. Upon arrival, the officer
observed a Hispanic male subject being forcibly restrained
in a treatment room by three females. The officer assisted
the women and the man became compliant. Alvarado was verbally
abusive to the officer, emergency room personnel and friends
who had accompanied him to the hospital. According to the
attending physician, Alvarado was under the influence of alcohol
and narcotics but was in no medical danger and was due to
be released shortly. After being warned to stop behaving in
a disorderly fashion and told of the possible consequences
if he continued to do so, Alvarado told the officer that he
would control himself. Less than five minutes later, however,
he was overheard cursing his girlfriend in a loud manner.
He was charged with public intoxication and transported to
Carter County Jail.
* Ruth Odom, 28, and Joseph S. Atkinson, 24, both of 4011
E. Englewood Blvd., were arrested Thursday by officers of
Johnson City Police Bureau and charged with three counts of
felony child neglect and abuse following investigation into
the neglect of three juveniles.
* Antony Shawn Smith, 23, 1215 Windsor Ave., Apt. 3, was arrested
Wednesday by officers of Bristol Tennessee Police Department
and charged with aggravated robbery following investigation
of a Jan. 13 robbery at Day's Inn, located on Volunteer Parkway.
According to police, a white male walked into Days Inn and
robbed the clerk, showing a handgun under his coat. The suspect
left on foot with a small amount of money. Smith was arraigned
Thursday and his bond set at $100,000.
* Shemelle Cousin, 21, 300 S. Roan St. Johnson City, was arrested
Friday Feb. 8 for operating a vehicle without a license. CCSD
Deputy Albert Meehan arrested Cousin after he stopped him
driving a miniature go-kart on Price St. The vehicle was not
licensed and Cousin's driver's license had been suspended.
Cousin had been arrested in Johnson City for similar charges.
Cousin is due to appear in court Friday Feb. 15.
* Jeremy Burleson, 20, 121 Hyder St., was arrested Saturday
Feb. 9 for criminal impersonation. CCSD Officer Albert Meehan
made the arrest after he followed Burleson from the Hampton
Road Runner Market. Burleson headed south on 19E and turned
on to Gap Creek. He pulled into the driveway of a darkened
home. Officer Meehan arrested Burleson after he gave him another
individual's driver's license.
* Christy Pearson, 22, 162 Brimer Rd. Hampton, was arrested
for Capias FTA on Friday Feb. 8. CCSD Officer Dean Jones made
the arrest with out incident. A $500 bond was set and Pearson
is scheduled to appear in court on Monday Feb. 11.
* Angela Potter, 23 162 Brimer Rd. Hampton, was arrested for
Capias FTA on DOR. Officer Dean Jones made the arrest with
out incident. A $500 bond was set and Potter is scheduled
to appear in court on Monday Feb. 11.
Burglary
* CCSD Officer Dean Jones responded Saturday Feb. 9 to the
home of Arlene Sanchez-Vinas, 871 Sycamore Shoals Dr. Sanchez-Vinas
told the officer that tools were missing from her garage.
Deep sea fishing poles, Dewalt screwdriver gun, Dewalt saw,
Dewalt drill gun, and an angle grinder were reported as missing.
Illegal Dumping
* John Hardin, facility member at Unaka High School, reported
to the CCSD that a pile of 35 tires had been dumped on the
school's property next to a classroom. The tires were dumped
between Friday Feb. 1 and Monday Feb. 4.
Domestic
* CCSD Deputy Sarah Ryan responded Thursday to a physical
domestic disturbance at 170 Greendale Rd., Johnson City. The
victim, Laura Grindstaff, told the officer that her spouse,
David T. Grindstaff, arrived home and became agitated after
discovering he had missed the evening meal, and accused the
victim of doing it on purpose. Mrs. Grindstaff, concerned
with exposing their 6-year-old child to the situation, prompted
the discussion to continue in the bathroom. Mrs. Grindstaff
said she told her husband she wanted him to leave, but he
advised her that she would be the one leaving, then grabbed
her by the shoulders, threw her into the bathtub and stormed
out of the room. She went into the bedroom to comfort their
daughter, at which time her 14-year-old brother confronted
David Grindstaff in the hallway. Grindstaff reportedly threatened
to harm the juvenile, then went into the bedroom where Mrs.
Grindstaff was and another confrontation ensued, with David
Grindstaff shoving items off the bedroom dresser and ripping
the phone cord from the wall. He left the residence prior
to the officer's arrival. The victim, daughter and victim's
brother were transported to a safe place.
Gun scare
* Members of Carter County Sheriff's Department responded
Friday to Cloudland High School regarding a report that a
male student had taken a gun to school. According to Sheriff
John Henson, a couple of guns were stolen a few weeks ago
and it was believed that a student at the high school had
taken the guns and had them in a vehicle at the school. Upon
investigation, no gun was found. "It was just a misunderstanding
of information given to one of the constables in the county,"
Sheriff Henson said, "but it did cause a scare to a lot
of people." Henson said regardless of how big or how
small, the sheriff's department checks out all rumors of that
nature. "I'm proud to say that there wasn't a gun. I
would like to thank all people involved -- constables, teachers,
students and the principal at Cloudland High School for their
cooperation in this matter and getting it cleared up real
quick. I would also like to thank my officers for a job well
done," he said.
Announcement
* Sullivan County Sheriff Wayne Anderson will be announcing
his candidacy for a second term as sheriff at 7 p.m. Monday
at the Fraternal Order of Police meeting to be held at Ryan's
Steakhouse on Memorial Boulevard in Kingsport. The public
is invited to attend.
