Samuel Lee Pace

The Tullahoma Police Department has arrested 20-year-old, Samuel Pace, Jr., who resides in Summitville, TN, for his alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred at 509 Campbell Ave. in Tullahoma, TN during the evening hours of Sunday, December 14, 2014.  Tullahoma Police were dispatched to 509 Campbell Ave. shortly after 9:00 p.m. Sunday in reference to a subject having been shot.

Upon arrival Officers discovered the victim, Elton “Coty” Thomas, a 34-year-old who resides at the Campbell Ave. residence, had suffered a single gunshot wound to the face.  The responding officers found marijuana in the residence. Thomas was transported by ambulance to Harton Regional Medical Center and was later transferred to Vanderbilt Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries.

Investigators were called to the scene and as a result of the information obtained during their investigation, began to attempt to locate Samuel Pace Jr. The investigation continued through the night and throughout the day Monday. Several locations were searched Monday with the assistance of the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and as a result it was discovered that Pace had been taken by a friend to a Motel in McMinnville, TN.

Inv. Dale Stone, of the Tullahoma Police Department, obtained a warrant charging Pace with Attempted First Degree Murder. Deputies with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department were then notified of Pace’s location and went to the Motel and made contact with Pace.  Pace however refused Officer’s initial requests to come out.  After negotiations with Pace failed, Warren County Authorities introduced a chemical irritant into the room and as a result Pace was taken into custody without further incident.

Pace is currently being held in the Coffee County Jail under a $150,000.00 bond and is charged with Attempted First Degree Murder and is scheduled to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court on Thursday, December 18, 2014

Bryan SUV heavily damaged in Monday’s crash… Photos by Barry West

An accident occurred Monday afternoon around 4pm on the Wattendorf Hwy near AEDC. According a report by the Tennessee Highway Patrol a 2002 Nissan Sentra driven by 40 year-old Jesus Fernandez of Tullahoma was traveling on an unnamed road and continued through a stop sign, striking a 2008 Mercury SUV driven by 34 year-old Kristen Bryan of Manchester. Fernandez was the only person that was injured in the crash that caused heavy damage to both vehicles. He was transported by Coffee County EMS to United Regional Hospital for treatment and was given a citation for stop sign violation and no proof of insurance.
A 4-year old female was a passenger in the Bryan SUV and was not injured and was properly restrained.
Along with the THP and Coffee County EMS, AEDC Police and Manchester Fire & Rescue responded to the scene.

Jesus Fernandez of Tullahoma was the only person in the accident that totaled his car.

At approximately 9:30am, Tuesday morning, December 16, officers of the Tullahoma Police Department were dispatched to Adair Street in Tullahoma in regards to a suspicious item in a residential mailbox. Upon arrival, the officer determined the item was indeed suspicious and began measures to isolate the area and notify the Tennessee Highway Patrol bomb squad.
The TN Highway Patrol bomb squad and members of the TN State Bomb and Arson unit came to the scene and conducted a preliminary investigation. The Highway Patrol bomb technicians removed the object and transported it to the Arnold Air Force Base to safely destroy. An investigation will be conducted to determine the components of the object and whether it was a potential explosive device and a determination made as to further investigation. Officer Bob Looney was the initial officer on the scene and assisted by Lieutenant Ray Higginbotham.
The residents of Adair Street were permitted back into their houses at 2:30pm. There was minimal interruption of daily activities for the residents.
The Tullahoma Police Department will continue to investigate this incident and requests anyone having information to contact TPD at (931) 455-0530.

Motorists are saving an average of $10 for a tank of gas compared to this time last year. Gasoline prices crept closer to $2 a gallon last week and nothing is slowing them down. Domestic oil supply is at a three decade high and forecast to keep growing. Meanwhile, the price of oil fell to its lowest level in five years.
The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded has fallen 35 cents in the past month, settling at $2.56 on Sunday. According to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report, prices are as low as $2.09 in Brighton, Tennessee.
“Tennessee motorists should begin seeing gasoline as low as $2 a gallon at various gas stations in the next couple days.
Last week, the price of oil fell below $60 a barrel for the first time since July 2009. West Texas Intermediate settled at $57.81 a barrel Friday, $8.03 less than the week before and the lowest closing since May 2009.
The average price is $2.36 per gallon in Tennessee. The low price in Manchester is $2.25 and in Tullahoma it’s $2.22 per gallon.