Patrick Scott
Call the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office at 931-684-2434 if you have any information that could assist in this investigation.
Category: News
Man Selling Stolen Utility Trailers being Searched for by Bedford County Authorities
Call the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office at 931-684-2434 if you have any information that could assist in this investigation.
Medicaid Reductions Could Cut Deep in Rural Tennessee
A new report says half of Tennessee’s rural children are covered by Medicaid for their health needs. (Amber McNamara/flickr)
Researchers found across the nation, a higher percentage of children in rural areas count on Medicaid compared to urban areas.
Kinika Young, director of children’s health for the Tennessee Justice Center, points out that, with Tennessee leading the country in hospital closures, entire rural economies could be at risk.
“If there’s any tinkering with the funding, the hospital could face a lot of cutbacks or even closure,” she states. “And if that happens, not only do people lose a place to go if they need health care, but you also lose a large employer in the county.”
Nine hospitals have closed in recent years in the Volunteer State, and 32 are in danger of closing.
According to the Georgetown data, 50 percent of rural Tennessee children are enrolled in Medicaid, compared to 39 percent of children in metro counties.
The report says the figures underscore the importance of preserving funding for Medicaid as Congress debates the American Health Care Act.
Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, calls Medicaid a crucial support for children, families, seniors and people with disabilities.
“Our nation’s leaders face a really important decision on whether or not to cut Medicaid and turn their backs on the progress we’ve made in helping children and families,” she states. “That’s so important for folks to understand that the Medicaid program is really the backbone of health insurance in these rural areas and small towns.”
Young adds providing proper health coverage to children, particularly in rural communities, also can broaden the tax base and reduce need for public assistance later on.
“Children who have health care coverage under Medicaid tend to make better grades,” she points out. “They’re more likely to attend college and therefore, they’re more likely to get higher paying jobs, which in turn leads to them paying more in taxes.”
According to the report, the number of children on Medicaid has increased by 5 percent since 2009.
Tennessee Judges can Enhance Sentences for Defendants in the country Illegally at the time of their Crime
Tennessee judges will have the authority to enhance sentences for defendants in the country illegally at the time of their crimes, under a bill the governor has signed into law.
According to the General Assembly’s website, Gov. Bill Haslam signed the bill on Friday. He had previously declined to say whether he had any concerns about the bill, which was sponsored by Republican Rep. Ron Gant of Rossville and Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville.
Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris says he’s disappointed the governor signed the bill. The Memphis Democrat says the measure will treat criminal defendants convicted of the same crime differently depending on where they were born.
Harris said similar measures have been struck down by the courts in other states.
Two out-of-state men Arrested on Drug Charges
Daniel W Loper… Intake photos provided by the CCSD.
The arrest warrant indicates that deputies said that in plain view were several bags of marijuana, scales, and paraphernalia. Also there was allegedly a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The warrant says that deputies were given consent to search the vehicle and deputies allegedly found a large amount of schedule I, and schedule VI drugs. The arrest warrant goes onto say that 2 pounds of marijuana packed in 58 bags, 1 pound and 12oz of mushrooms packed in 138 bags, 11 molly pills in 2 bags, 11 ecstasy pills, and a 1 bag with a 1/2 gram of Ketamine were found inside the vehicle.
Ryan Alpeus Wiggins
Fugitive from Justice Arrested on I-24
Robert Carl Cason… Photo provided by the CCSD.
Cason was charged with being a fugitive from justice, schedule II drug violation, unlawful drug paraphernalia uses and activities and vehicle registration. Bond was set at $105,500 and his court date will be June 15, 2017.
$6,000 taken off the streets by Manchester Police
Holden Justiss Chandler… Photo provided by the CCSD.
Investigators recovered what is believed to be approximately 34 grams of mushrooms, 33 grams of cocaine, 16oz of marijuana, a small amount of molly and approximately 50 hits of acid from the subject when they arrested him. The value of the drugs is approximately $6,000. Chandler allegedly admitted to investigators that the illegal drugs belonged to him.
Chandler was charged by Investigator Eldridge with two counts of manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of a controlled substance. His bond was set at $60,000 and he is set to appear in Coffee County court on July 21, 2017.
Bonnaroo Staff and Deputies Stop Man with Drugs from entering Festival
Michael Lauren Clark… Photo provided by the CCSD.
Clark was charged by Coffee County Sheriff’s Department Corporal Harmon Campbell with manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of a controlled substance. He was booked into the Coffee County Jail under a bond $250,000 and he’ll appear in court on August 11, 2017.
TBI Releases Annual Studies On School Crime, Domestic Violence
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released two studies last week, detailing the volume and nature of crime on school campuses and crimes identified as being domestic violence in nature. The annual studies compile crime data submitted to TBI by the state’s law enforcement agencies through the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System (TIBRS).
Among the findings of “Domestic Violence 2016”:
· A total of 78,100 domestic violence offenses were reported in 2016, representing a 0.4% increase over 2015.
· Simple Assault accounted for 66.7% of all reported domestic violence offenses.
· Females were three times as likely to be victimized as males, and accounted for 71.5% of reported victims.
· Juveniles accounted for approximately 9.6% of reported domestic violence victims.
Among the findings of “School Crime 2014-2016”:
· Overall, the number of offenses reported as having occurred in school decreased 8.8% from 2014 to 2016.
· Simple Assault was the most frequently reported offense.
· The largest percentage of reported offenses occurred between 12:00 p.m. and 2:59 p.m.
· The month of September had the highest frequency of reported school crimes.
As with all of its crime publications, the TBI cautions against using the data provided in these reports to compare one jurisdiction to another. The factors impacting crime vary from community to community and accordingly, comparisons are considered neither fair nor accurate.
Both reports are currently available for review on the TBI’s website: www.tn.gov/tbi.
Man says he was doing God’s Work by Allegedly Selling Fake Drugs at Bonnaroo
David E Brady jail intake photo provided by the CCSD.
On Wednesday night, (June 7th, 2017) David E Brady, age 45, of Albany, New York, was in Bonnaroo Pod 2 inside Coffee County, Tennessee. Coffee County deputies allegedly saw Brady with items that appeared to be narcotics sitting under a tent. When deputies approached the man, he apparently tossed the items behind him. When Brady stood up he allegedly had a bag of mushrooms hanging from his waist band.
Authorities searched the man and according to the arrest warrant, they found 37 pills made to look as if they were molly (synthetic drug that alters mood and perception), 22 bags of fake mushrooms, approximately 1,000 hits of fake acid, 20 bags made to look like cocaine and an incense stick made to look like black tar heroin.
The arrest warrant goes onto say that Brady told deputies that he was doing God’s work by selling fake drugs.
Coffee County Sheriff’s Department Investigator James Sherrill charged the man with two counts of counterfeit controlled substances.
It was later discovered that while checking Brady for warrants, authorities found that the man was wanted in Franklin County, Arkansas, on a felony bench warrant. The state of Arkansas will extradite the subject. He was then charged by Deputy Aaron Miller with being a fugitive from justice.
Brady’s bond was set at $120,000 and he will appear in Coffee County court on August 11, 2017.
Local Authorities Asking for the Public’s Help
On June 2nd, 2017 the Tullahoma Police Department and Tullahoma Fire Department responded to Short Springs Natural area for a fire that was set under a newly constructed bridge.
The Tullahoma Police Department is asking for anyone with information regarding this set fire to contact them by private message on Facebook, email Investigator Tyler Hatfield at thatfield@tullahomatn.gov, or by phone 931-455-0530.
The Tullahoma Police Department and Tullahoma Fire Department thanks you for your assistance in this case.
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A male subject is wanted for questioning in reference to a theft in Manchester. If you can identify the person in the photo, please contact Manchester Police Chief Investigator Jackie Matheny at 931-728-2099. Your help will be greatly appreciated.
