A tanker truck overturned on I-24 Eastbound, going toward Manchester, near the Rutherford – Coffee Co. line around 2am Monday.
Only one lane was open while hazmat crews determined if there was a spill. Just before the roadway re-opened, all lanes were shut down as the tanker was up righted. Most of the traffic was diverted to Hwy 41 to the Beechgrove exit during the hazmat cleanup. The tanker truck was loaded with used motor oil.
The crash happened at mile marker 92, just 5 miles from the Coffee County line.
Category: News
Tanker Truck carrying Motor Oil Overturns on I-24 near Beechgrove
Sunday Morning Fire in Hillsboro
On Sunday morning just after midnight Coffee County deputies responded to a call of a structure fire at 931 Sherrell Road.
The mobile home was fully engulfed when emergency crews arrived along with a Dodge van that was pulled up near the home.
Pelham Valley fire department and Hillsboro fire department began extinguishing the fire. Once the fire was extinguished due to not knowing if anyone was inside the trailer, the fire department began pulling the metal from the walls and removing debris to check for any victims. It was determined that no one was inside the home.
County Unemployment Rate Down in Coffee County
County unemployment rates for the month of December show the rates decreased in 77 counties, increased in 7 counties and stayed the same in 11 counties.
Coffee County had one of the best months in its history as we dropped from 3.3 in November to 3.0 percent in December. Franklin County reported the same numbers as Coffee County. Moore County fell form 2.7 percent to 2.5. Warren County’s December unemployment rate was 3.2 percent, down from the November rate of 3.5. Grundy County went from 4.6 to 4.3 percent. Cannon County went from 3.1 to 2.8 percent.
Williamson County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.2 percent for December, while Rhea County had the highest at 5.6 percent.
TBI Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting in Murfreesboro
TBI Special Agents are investigating the circumstances of an officer-involved shooting late Sunday morning in Murfreesboro.
Preliminary information indicates several law enforcement agencies in Rutherford and Bedford counties were involved in efforts to arrest 23 year-old Jesse Caldwell on warrants charging him in connection to several crimes over the past week. On Sunday, after spotting a vehicle authorities suspect Caldwell stole in Bedford County, officers from the Murfreesboro Police Department pursued Caldwell to a location in the 500 block of Twin Oak Drive. There, an officer exited his vehicle, identified Caldwell, and shot into the vehicle. Caldwell was not shot but sustained minor injuries from broken glass. No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident.
After being examined and treated at a local hospital, authorities booked Caldwell in to the Rutherford County Jail.
Encounter Life Church to host “Night to Shine” event in Manchester for Teens with Special Needs
For the last 3 years, Encounter Life Church has hosted the Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine event in Manchester. Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for people over the age of 14 with special needs. On one night, February 9th, 2018, more than 540 churches from around the world will come together to serve approximately 90,000 honored guests through the support of more than 175,000 volunteers. Locally, all of the festivities will happen in the gymnasium at First Baptist Church, located at 1006 Hillsboro Blvd. in Manchester, from 6-9pm.
Adam Cutshaw, Pastor at Encounter Life said this, “It’s a beautiful thing to see so many volunteers from our church and others come together to demonstrate God’s love in a real and practical way. As people who have experienced God’s love toward us, through Jesus, it only makes sense for us to extend that love to those in our community. It’s a joy and an honor to celebrate with all of our honored guests. It really is an unforgettable night.” Events for the night include a limo ride for participants, food, music and more.
Registration is now open for the event for both guests and volunteers. If you or someone you know is interested in attending the event as a guest, there’s a registration link at encounterlifechurch.org. Similarly, if you’re interested in volunteering for this year’s event, you will also find a link on the site. For more information, you can visit encounterlifechurch.org or https://www.facebook.com/events/565975510415864/.
New Information for Parents of Children in Coffee County
The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department is continuing to tirelessly investigate a person(s) that is contacting several young children in the area. The person is sending very crude sexual and threating messages through various social media and online gaming sites. The person(s) has also sent lewd photos.
Parents please be aware that this has occurred to students at various schools in Coffee County.
Investigators are urging parents to suspend your child’s use of social media and online gaming sites until this problem is resolved. They are also asking parents to pay close attention to your child’s cellular phone especially text messages.
If you find anything that is questionable, please contact Coffee County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Kelly Smith at 931-570-4425 or email ksmith@coffeecountytn.org. Due to overwhelming responses by the public, please give Investigator Smith or another investigator time to respond. They will get back to you as quickly as possible.
Man that was Shot by a Tullahoma Officer Now Arrested for Attempted Murder and More
William Moon… Photo provided by the CCSD.
William Moon, 44, of East Moore Street, is being held in the Coffee County Jail under a bond of $1.1 million.
On Dec. 17 Tullahoma Police Cpl. Michael Wilder went to the 800 block of East Moore Street, near College Street, to serve an aggravated assault arrest warrant on Moon. Warrants allege that Moon “became combative” and produced a Taurus 9 mm handgun, pointing it directly at Wilder.
The two men scuffled, and shots were fired.
Moon was flown to Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, Alabama for treatment of bullet wounds. He underwent surgery at the hospital. He was recently released from the hospital and was held in the Madison County Jail in Huntsville and then transported to the Coffee County Jail.
At the request of Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation conducted an investigation of the incident, which found no wrongdoing by the officer.
Moon made a preliminary appearance in Coffee County General Sessions Court on Jan. 25
Tullahoma man facing Multiple Charges
A Tullahoma man had multiple charges filed against him after he was involved in a traffic accident and left the scene.
According to a report by Tullahoma Police Officer Michael Wilder, on Jan. 23 Houston Kane Smith of Jean Drive Tullahoma was charged with possession of schedule IV, schedule VI, leaving the scene of an accident, evading arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and manufacture/sell/delivery of a controlled substance.
According to the officer’s report, an accident was reported at 131 Silver Street. Callers said that a vehicle struck a utility pole and left the scene. The vehicle was described as being a silver van was located at an apartment building on Silver Street. When the officer arrived, the apartment manager informed him which apartment the driver entered. He went to the apartment and the resident said that he was in the apartment. Smith was found in the bathroom with the shower curtain wrapped around him.
Wilder’s report states that he saw in plain view a Xanax bar on the bathroom sink along with marijuana. Also, there were lines on the sink where Smith allegedly admitted to crushing up the pills and “snorting.”
As Wilder was escorting Smith out he asked if there was a weapon in the apartment, because he had seen several bullets in the bedroom. Smith allegedly pointed to a rifle in a corner of the living room.
Wilder asked for permission to search the apartment, but the resident refused, so he contacted the investigators for help in obtaining a search warrant. He transferred Smith the Coffee County Jail. Investigator Lt. Jason Ferrell and Investigator Tyler Hatfield obtained a search warrant and the apartment was searched.
Officers allegedly found marijuana inside the tank of the toilet during the search. They also found digital scales that allegedly had marijuana residue on it.
He is being held in the Coffee County Jail under a bond of $31,500 and is set to appear in Coffee County General Session Court March 1.
Woman Files Federal Suit against Moore County and Former Jail Correctional Officer
A federal lawsuit contends a Tennessee jail guard impregnated an inmate after repeatedly raping her.
The Tennessean reports the lawsuit filed Wednesday accuses former Moore County Jail correctional officer Caleb Shane Hopkins of forcing Jessica Fowler to engage in nonconsensual sex for four months in 2017.
Fowler, who is still in jail and has given birth, is suing Hopkins for $1 million and the county for $300,000.
Fowler’s attorney Ben Raybin says Hopkins pleaded guilty last November to two counts each of sexual contact with an inmate by a law enforcement officer and official misconduct.
Raybin questions why the assaults happened so often in a supposedly monitored environment.
Hopkin’s attorney Mark Stewart says Hopkins was unaware of the lawsuit and declined to comment.
The child is with Fowler’s parents.
Police Pursuit Ends with Self-Inflected Gunshot Death
On Wednesday night (January 24, 2018) around 10:45pm Coffee County Deputy Kevin Smith noticed a vehicle headed south bound on the Hillsboro Hwy with a front head light out. Smith then got behind the vehicle and it left the lane of travel at least twice making the deputy believe it was a possible DUI. Smith then attempted to conduct a traffic stop at which time the car pulled over like it was going to stop, then it took off at a high-rate of speed. After the vehicle took off, Smith says he noticed the driver was throwing what appeared to be small bags out of his window. Smith pursued the vehicle south on Hillsboro Hwy then turned right onto Winchester Hwy towards Franklin County. When they entered Franklin County a Franklin County Sheriff’s unit took the lead. The driver, later identified as Timothy McMillian age 30 of Sears Roebuck Rd, Tullahoma struck the Franklin County unit. When they turned onto 41A a Franklin County unit attempted to stop the driver. The vehicle lost control at which time Smith pulled in front of the vehicle. McMillan then hit Smith’s patrol unit, putting it out of commission. As the driver made his way down the Wattendorf Hwy near AEDC, spike strips were deployed, but the driver was able to elude contact.
McMillan then allegedly attempted to wreck other patrol cars. The suspect’s vehicle and a Franklin County Sheriff’s car spun around in front of Coffee County Deputy Jennifer Curbow who had joined the pursuit. Curbow took the sidewalk to avoid contact with the Franklin County unit. Curbow said she caught up to the car in front of the Winchester Sonic where McMillian allegedly slammed on the brakes causing her to hit him, but no damage was caused. The suspect regained control of the car and then Curbow and Coffee County Cpl. Harmon Campbell caught back up to the driver when the vehicle crashed.
As deputies got out of their patrol cars they say they heard a gunshot and went around to the front of the car and asked the subject to get out of the car, when they got no compliance from the subject they realized McMillian had allegedly shot himself. Cpl Campbell busted the driver’s window to remove the gun from the suspect’s hand.
The Franklin County deputies administered first aid until EMS arrived. Upon EMS arriving the suspect was determined to be deceased.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was called to the scene and is now investigating the self-inflected gunshot portion of this case.
