Bike parts found in the road after crash... Photo by Barry West

Van and bicycle collision takes the life of a Coffee County man... Photo by Barry West

It was almost sundown Wednesday when a small van traveling west on Oakhill Road in northern Coffee County topped a rise in the road and struck a family of five riding their bicycles. A mother, father and three children were all struck by the van and knocked into the ditch. The mother and one child were transported to an area hospital. The father was pronounced dead at the scene. The people in the van suffered minor injuries.
Trooper Donnie Clark was in charge of the scene.

Lebron Terrell Brown

During the early evening hours of Tuesday, April 10, 2012, Tullahoma Police were called to the Casa Mexican Restaurant located on North Jackson Street in Tullahoma to investigate a possible “stabbing”.  Upon arrival the victim, 23-year-old Garry Lee Brown of Chattanooga, was bleeding from multiple wounds to his neck. Garry Brown was taken to Harton Regional Medical Center and was later airlifted to Erlanger Hospital where he was treated and released. Using information gathered from the victim at the scene, Police were able to obtain an alleged suspect vehicle description and in turn notified surrounding agencies to request their assistance in locating the vehicle. Just over an hour later, Manchester Police observed a vehicle matching the description and conducted a stop of the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, Lebron Terrell Brown, a 23-year-old Chattanooga resident, was taken into custody and interviewed.  The victim and suspect were allegedly a room at the Quality Inn Located behind the Casa Mexican Restaurant when an argument ensued resulting in the injuries to victim. The victim then ran to the restaurant where an employee notified police. After obtaining a search warrant, a search of the room was conducted.  Eight grams of crack cocaine and cash were located in the room along with other items that were seized as evidence in the case. Lebron Brown is charged with the alleged Aggravated Assault and is currently being held in the Coffee County Jail under a $25,000.00 bond. The investigation into the narcotics found in the room continues.

The Air Force is considering opening up a portion of the Arnold Air Force Base property for commercial development. The Air Force Real Property Agency has issued a Request for Information asking for input from developers and others on the use of some 152-acre parcel. The request does not cite a specific type of development, but does list a number of possibilities that will be considered.  Possibilities include, but are not limited to, manufacturing, distributing, warehousing, office space, mixed-use, residential and renewable or alternative energy operations.  The property’s western border fronts on Highway 55.  It is bordered on the north by the former Coffee County Landfill, and the land has been partially cleared.  Though the Air Force is seeking to determine the private sector’s interest and possible plans for developing the land, the property may never be broken.

Anthony Heartsell

20-year-old Anthony Heartsell is accused of raping a woman while both were patients at a Manchester nursing home.  Heartsell was ordered to undergo mental evaluation yesterday in Coffee County General Sessions Court.  He is to return to court May 8.

Thomas Greenwood

Thomas “TJ” Greenwood, the man convicted of murdering 2-year-old Hayden Gage West in March 2010, was transferred this week from the Coffee County Jail to the Tennessee Department of Corrections facility in Morgan County to begin serving his life sentence.  The prison holds over 2,400 inmates.

The FBI and members of the Tullahoma Police Department served a search warrant at a residence on Atlantic Street Monday night searching for child pornography on computers. The investigation began after the FBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit learned of possible child pornography being traded on the Internet by an individual at the residence.
The case is expected to be presented to a federal grand jury.

Oninion spill onto I-24... Photo and info from WKRN-TV

A tractor trailer carrying onions overturned on Interstate 24 in La Vergne midday Wednesday, forcing officials to shutdown the westbound lanes for more than two hours. The wreck was reported at the exit to Waldron Road at mile marker 64 around 11:30 a.m. The driver of the semi-truck told police a car slowed in front of him, causing his truck and another tractor trailer hauling corn to collide. The impact caused his truck to roll onto its side, sending boxes of Vidalia onions across all westbound lanes. Westbound traffic on I-24 was affected with all lanes blocked while crews work to clean the mess. No one was injured and no charges were filed.