One of the injured loaded onto Life Force... By Barry West

Five hurt in SUV crash... Photo by Barry West

Ashley Landon from Winchester was traveling south on Prairie Plains Road when her Ford Explorer left the road and overturned Thursday afternoon (June 21, 2012). She said that she had just put on a spare tire that was a different size. When she topped a rise in the road, the car started to wobble and bounce. She then lost control and left the roadway. Six children ranging in age from 5 to 9 were also in the vehicle. A seven-year-old and a nine-year-old were flown from the scene by Life Force to Erlanger Hospital with various injuries. Three of the other children went to area hospitals with minor injuries. The driver and one other child were unhurt. THP was in charge of the scene.

Mazda is heavily damaged after crash on I-24... Photo by Barry West

An accident on I-24 eastbound near the 105 exit severely injured one man around 4:30pm. Coffee county deputies, EMS and Manchester Fire Department responded to the Thursday afternoon crash (June 21, 2012).
A witness from Blount County said that a Mazda sedan was traveling east when the driver went off the edge of the interstate overcorrecting and went into the path of an 18-wheeler. The Mazda from Florida and truck collided causing tremendous damage to the car.
The male driver of the car suffered serious injuries and was transported via Air Evac to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. The wreck is still under investigation.

Man from Florida is loaded into a chopper on I-24... By Barry West

Lisa Lemmons

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced this week three arrest in Coffee County on TennCare Fraud charges:

• Lisa Lemons, 50, of Manchester, charged with two counts of TennCare fraud, allegedly using her TennCare benefits to obtain the painkiller Hydrocodone and Alprazolam, an anti-depressant, while planning to sell a portion of the drugs.
• Michael Bumpus, 46, of Tullahoma, charged with one count of TennCare fraud for using TennCare benefits to obtain Soma, a muscle relaxant, later selling a portion of the prescription.
• Regina Lacewell, 50, of Manchester, charged with one count of TennCare fraud for using TennCare benefits to obtain the strong painkiller Morphine, concealing the fact she planned to sell a portion of the drug.

Michael Bumpus

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony, carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison. District Attorney General Mickey Layne will prosecute the Coffee County cases.

Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions. Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tn.gov/tnoig and follow the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”

Regina Lacewell

Pot growing in the back of business in January

Deputies with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department arrested Jerry Thomas Northcutt Jr. of 1208 W Lincoln Street in Tullahoma for manufacturing marijuana. Jerry Northcutt was arrested at his home for a sealed indictment and transported to the Coffee County jail to make a $12,500 bond. Northcutt was the owner of the Horns Strings and Things when deputies went in with a search warrant and seized forty-seven pot plants growing in the back room in January. As of now Northcutt is the only suspect that deputies have linked to the marijuana grow.

William T. Moon

One suspect accused of calling in a bomb threat directed to a Rutherford County Circuit Court judge on May 31 is wanted by Rutherford County sheriff’s detectives and the U.S. Marshals. A felony arrest warrant was obtained charging suspect William T. Moon, 51, of Tracy City, with making a false report. Moon allegedly called in the threat to the Rutherford County Judicial Building. Rutherford County CrimeStoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 cash for information leading to Moon’s arrest. People who have information about Moon’s whereabouts are asked to call CrimeStoppers at 615-893-STOP (7867) between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. People may also call the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office at 615-898-7770 or the U.S. Marshal’s office at 615- 736-5417. The investigation showed Moon was supposed to be in Circuit Court Judge Don Ash’s courtroom on May 31 for a plea on charges of theft, vandalism, aggravated criminal trespassing and possession of burglary tools. He did not show up in court. Detectives and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents arrested Moon’s girlfriend, Sheila Demotta, 46, of Tracy City, Tuesday on a felony charge of making a false report to them. Circuit Court Judge David M. Bragg set her bond at $100,000. She is being held at Rutherford County Adult Detention Center while awaiting a June 25 hearing in General Sessions Court.

Mary Mason

Mary E. Mason, the 61-year-old Franklin County woman that was being held under a $1 million bond following a shooting at a residence on Highway 130 May 31, 2012, has been released from jail after her bond was lowered. Mason, 61, of 9321 Old Tullahoma Hwy., was charged with Criminal Homicide following the shooting death of Eules D. Wimley, 71, of 1884 Post Oak Road, Belvidere. According to Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller, deputies received a call of a domestic disagreement at the residence. When they arrived they found the two standing in the yard talking and Mason had a weapon. As the officers approached the pair, the woman fired multiple shots and Wimley collapsed. Deputies and ambulance personnel administered first aid in an attempt to revive the man, but at 9:20 pm he was pronounced dead at the scene. Mason made the reduced bail amount of $100,000 and is now set to appear before General Sessions Judge Tom Faris on August 9.