February 13, 2002

Arrests

   * Michael E. Townsend, 28, 427 W. G St., Apt. 12, was arrested Saturday by Constable Bob Carroll following a traffic stop on West F St. Elizabethton Police were called to assist and upon arrival, found a 14-year-old female behind the wheel of the vehicle. Officers detected an odor of alcohol about the girl and gave her several field sobriety tasks to perform. According to Elizabethton Police Department Capt. Rusty Verran, the girl told police she had consumed two beers. She was issued a summons charging her with underage consumption and was released to the custody of her grandmother. Townsend was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
   * Alan Jack Simerly, 21, Broad Street, was arrested Monday by EPD Sgt. Brian Fraley after the officer and Ptl. Jerry Bradley were dispatched to Winn-Dixie on U.S. Highway 19E regarding a shoplifter. According to the report, Simerly ran from the store without paying for merchandise and was located on the southeast end of the parking lot, hiding in a train coal car parked near the Snap-on plant. Simerly was charged by Elizabethton Police with evading arrest. He was found to be in possession of an assortment of electric toothbrushes valued at more than $101. An assistant manager from Winn-Dixie took a criminal summons for Simerly charging him with theft.
   * William P. Presley, 36, 1628 Central Ave., was arrested Monday by Carter County Sheriff's Department Deputy Eric Buck on Rittertown Road in Hampton and charged with failure to appear on second-offense DUI, fourth-offense driving on revoked license, evading arrest, violation of implied consent, a second count of failure to appear, and two counts violation of probation.
   * Daniel Henry, 24, 123 Skyline Road, Jonesborough, was arrested Friday by officers of Johnson City Police Bureau following investigation into a forged prescription passed at a local pharmacy. Henry was charged with obtaining narcotics by fraud.
   * Clemente Herrera Jr., 33, 2307 Westwood St., Johnson City, was arrested Saturday by officers of Johnson City Police Bureau after a computer check by a local merchant showed him to be a fugitive from Boxar County, Texas. Herrera was charged with being a fugitive from justice.
   * Robert Honeycutt, 54, of Johnson City was arrested Saturday by officers of Johnson City Police Bureau after officers responded to a hit-and-run on Hamilton Street. Witnesses observed a brown vehicle strike a parked car and a tree before leaving the scene. Shortly afterward, a vehicle matching the description was located on Lamons Lane just off Market Street, with the driver sitting in the parking lot of Pizza Inn. Officers made contact with Honeycutt and placed him under arrest, charging him with sixth-offense DUI and seventh-offense driving on revoked license.
  
Trespassing

   * Carter County Highway Department Superintendent Jack Perkins reported Monday to CCSD Deputy Todd Hamm that someone had tampered with several county-owned trucks parked in the department's lot over the weekend. According to the report, several keys had been removed from buses at the county school bus garage and had been left in the sleeper compartment of one of the trucks. Nothing was found missing from the vehicles at the time of the report.
  
Animal rescue

   * EPD Ptl. Brooke Mullins and Animal Rescue Director Colleen Stout responded Monday to 506 E. Cottage Ave., to remove an injured and neglected dog from the residence. According to the report, the resident and owner of the dog said it had been hit by a car last week but that she was not going to take it to a veterinarian. She was left a 24-hour notice on Saturday by Animal Rescue, stating that the dog needed medical attention, fresh water and food, however, the dog still had not been treated on Monday. The dog's owner was extremely belligerent and refused to provide any information about the dog's health and age, or any information about herself, according to the report. The dog was removed by Animal Rescue and will receive treatment for injuries before being made available for adoption.
  
Theft

   * Willard D. Wilson, 32, 437 Race St., reported Monday to EPD Ptl. Jesus Pena that more than $2,000 in tools had been stolen from his storage building.
   * Kenneth Lyons, 64, 601 W. C St., reported Monday to EPD Ptl. Jerry Bradley that several checks had been stolen from the middle of his checkbook and, as a result, more than $1,000 had been withdrawn from his checking account.
   * Regina Cole, 35, 301 E. Cottage Ave., reported Monday to EPD Ptl. Brooke Mullins that her medication and several pieces of jewelry were missing from the residence. No signs of forced entry were found.

Fatality

   * A Johnson City man died Saturday evening from injuries received in an accident at West Main and Belmont streets. J.D. Dawson, 71, 710 Lamont St., Apt. 5, was pronounced dead at Johnson City Medical Center from severe head and chest trauma sustained in the 4:10 p.m. accident. According to Lt. Larry Williams of Johnson City Police Bureau, the Dawson vehicle was traveling in the left lane and a second vehicle, driven by Lawrence Shotland, 50, 12 University Place, was traveling in the right lane. The accident occurred when Shotland attempted to make a left turn onto Belmont and turned into the path of Dawson's vehicle. Shotland, who is new to the area, was unaware that he was on a one-way street. There was no evidence of speeding, according to police. Dawson was not wearing a seatbelt and contacted the steering wheel and windshield after impact. Shotland was transported to the medical center for treatment and was cited for improper left turn. A hearing was set for March 12 in Municipal Court. The investigation by the Bureau's Traffic Homicide Team is ongoing and results will be presented to the district attorney's office to determine whether further charges will be placed.