Category: News

On Monday in Coffee County, Tennessee Highway Patrolman Lazro Serna stopped a man driving westbound near Exit 111 in Manchester for a traffic violation. In the arrest warrant the Trooper says he made contact with the man who had enlarged pupils, and slurred speech. The warrant says that Robert Jackson Gourley age 21 of Redbud Place NW Concord NC allegedly admitted to smoking marijuana to Trooper Serna and then allegedly admitted to having molly, cocaine, and marijuana in the vehicle inside of a black plastic bag.
Serna says gave the subject 4 field sobriety tests and Gourley apparently failed 3 out of 4 tests. The man was transported to Unity Medical Center for a blood/alcohol test, results are pending.
THP also allegedly located a grinder with residue and rolling papers inside of the black plastic bag with the drugs as well.
Gourley was charged with Schedule I, II and VI drug violations, unlawful drug paraphernalia uses and activities and driving under the influence.
Bond was set at $9,500 and he’ll be in court July 22.

On Sunday, around 3:45 p.m., a lone gunman entered Creekside Market on North High Street in Winchester displaying a handgun and did rob the store owner of cash. Corporal Ryan Fuller responded to the scene with other officers. Detective Kelly Gass and Detective Jamie Cox investigated the robbery and started to canvas the surrounding neighborhoods and later in the evening were able to identify a suspect at a residence on North High Street. After further investigation, the Detectives were able to arrest 24 year old David Michael Jordan of 1707 Ovoca Road, in Tullahoma, on charges of Aggravated Robbery and Theft of Property $500-$1000 and incarcerated him in the Franklin County Jail under a $50,000 bond.

One of the victims in the mass shooting inside an Orlando nightclub was a graduate of La Vergne High School. WGNS Radio reports that 20 year old Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo graduated from La Vergne High School in May of 2015.
The shooting occurred at the Pulse Nightclub early Sunday morning.
The nightclub where the shooting occurred was an LGBT club. The shooter was said to be part of the ISIS organization. Before the gunman was killed by police, an American-Afghan terrorist phoned 911 to pledge allegiance to ISIS.

Prices at the pump are moving lower, but face upward pressure due to increased oil prices. According to AAA, the Auto Club Group, Crude oil reached 11-month highs last week and that could lead to higher gasoline prices. Although last week’s shift in oil prices was not dramatic and wholesale prices are lower than a week ago, so it’s possible pump prices could get cheaper. The average price in Tennessee declined for its fourth consecutive day on Sunday, declining one and a half cents during that time. The average price for gasoline is $2.19 in Tennessee and in Coffee County the low price for a gallon of gas was $2.09 in Tullahoma and $2.11 in Manchester.

Tennessee tax revenues exceeded budgeted estimates in May, driven primarily by sales taxes. Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Larry Martin announced that overall May revenues were $1.0 billion, which is $41.3 million more than the state budgeted.
Sales taxes were $33.5 million more than the estimate for May and were 6.49% more than May 2015. May receipts reflect retail business activity that occurred in April. For ten months, revenues are $345.0 million higher than estimated. The year-to-date growth rate for ten months was 7.81%.
Year-to-date revenues for ten months were $798.4 million more than the budgeted estimate. The general fund recorded $735.8 million above budgeted estimates and the four other funds were $62.6 million more than the budgeted estimate.

Last week, Nissan announced the winners of its annual Nissan Scholarship Program, awarding six middle Tennessee high school seniors renewable grants ranging from $1,000 to $3,750 per year. The 2016 winners included Joshua (Mill) Harner from Coffee County Central High School, who will attend the University of the South in Sewanee.
The program is offered to dependent sons and daughters of full-time Nissan employees who work at the company’s vehicle assembly, battery and powertrain operations located in Smyrna and Decherd, Tenn. The funds can be applied to tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment required for the course load.
The Nissan Scholarship Program was started in 1984, and since then Nissan has awarded nearly $1 million in scholarship funds.

A male pedestrian that was allegedly in Manchester for the Bonnaroo Music Festival was killed early Saturday morning on Interstate 24 around the 111 mile-marker. According to Tennessee Highway Patrolman Randy Euler, Casey J Young age 22 of Louisville, KY was in the median around 1 a.m. for an unknown reason and ran into the eastbound lanes of the interstate into the side of a 2017 18-wheeler driven by a man from Missouri. Young then apparently fell to the ground and was then struck by a 1996 Jeep driven by a man from Hillsboro. The state trooper’s report says that Young succumbed to his injuries on the scene.

Drug arrests are a common site each year at Bonnaroo and this year was no different. The following are the larger arrests at the event;

On Thursday, Brian Anthony Wiley and Trevor Franklin Watson III, both from Chattanooga were allegedly caught with a very large amount of drugs.
Authorities received information that Wiley and Watson were allegedly selling drugs at the festival.
Coffee County deputies allegedly found Wiley to be in possession of approximately 202 jars of THC oil, weighing approximately 15 milliliters; two bags of mushrooms, weighing approximately seven grams each; three bags with approximately 60 panes of blotter acid; 241 bags containing approximately 120.5 grams of what is believed to be ketamine; 22 bags of a white powdery substance weighing approximately 144.5 grams of what is believed to be cocaine; six Xanax bars; and 220 bags, weighing approximately 1210 grams of a green plant-like material believed to be marijuana, along with cash.
Wiley was also allegedly found to have a ledger and numerous drink cans with false containers. Wiley, 29, of North Moore Road, was charged with manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of controlled substance and unlawful drug paraphernalia uses and activities, while Watson faces charges of manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of controlled substance.
He is being held on a bond of $255,000 and is due in court on Aug. 12.
Trevor Franklin Watson III, 24, of Foxhall Lane was allegedly found to be in possession of six bottles containing 15 milliliters of THC oil; 10 bags of a green plant-like material weighing approximately 20 grams believed to be marijuana; two grams of a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine; four molly capsules; 14 bags of a crystal substance weighing approximately 14 grams of a substance believed to be molly; and 13 bags of a powdery substance weighing approximately 13 grams believed to be Ketamine.
Watson’s bond was set at $50,000 and he is also set to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court on Aug. 12.

Also on Thursday at Bonnaroo deputies allegedly found Tarik Quintez Horne age 23 of Covey Lane Covington GA to be in possession of approximately 1,101 pink pills believed to be ecstasy.
Horne was charged by Deputy Lee Marcom with Manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of controlled substance. Horne’s bond was set at $50,000 and a court date of August 12, 2016.

On Friday a man from Santa Rosa Beach, FL was allegedly found to have in his possession at Bonnaroo; 8 lbs of Chocolate Mushrooms, 11 oz of Mushrooms, 16 grams of Marijuana and 7 Amphetamine pills. According to the arrest warrant, a Coffee County Deputy states that the subject was seen in plain view selling these items at the festival and allegedly Brian James Addonizio age 32 of Bail Run Dr admitted that the items belonged to him. It was later discovered that Addonizio is a fugitive from justice from Virginia for charges of Manufacturing/delivering/sale. Addonizio was charged by Deputy Brandon Reed and booked under a $125,000 bond. His court date is set for August 12, 2016.

As Friday continued, officers were walking in the Bonnaroo music festival site and they allegedly observed a man conducting a drug exchange. Upon making contact with Thomas Joseph Kent age 27 Pleasant Hill Rd Duluth GA an officer asked to see his backpack. According to the arrest warrant, Manchester Officer Daryn Gadeken saw a large bag in the subjects backpack and then Kent apparently became hostile toward the officer and had to be taken to the ground. The warrant goes on to say that after the search of the backpack police found 5 blotter acid pads and 51 individually packaged bags of white power believed to be cocaine. Upon being transported to the Coffee County Jail the man was allegedly found to have an additional bag of white cocaine substance on his person.
Kent was charged with Manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of controlled substance, Schedule 1 and II drug violations, contraband in a penal institution and resisting arrest. Bond was set at $52,500 and a court date of July 22, 2016.

Also on Friday at Bonnaroo, Manchester officers were in the process of making an undercover drug buy when they identified themselves to a man and he ran. Officers caught Timothy J Lewchanyn age 47 of South Waters Edge Dr Glendale Heights, IL. Manchester Police took Lewchanyn back to his campsite and allegedly found a large amount of Psychedelic Mushrooms, several Ecstasy pills, and a large amount of Marijuana. The man also allegedly had illegal drugs on is person and in his vehicle packaged in small amounts.
Lewchanyn was charged by Manchester Officer Brandon Tomberlin with Manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of controlled substance and evading arrest. His bond was set at $51,000 and his court date is July 22, 2016.

On Saturday an undercover agent bought illegal drugs from a subject while at Bonnaroo in Manchester. In the arrest warrant, Manchester Police Investigator Jackie Matheny states that the agent bought approximately $100.00 worth of cocaine, acid and mushrooms from the man identified as Timothy Christopher Rhodes age 28 of Rucker Christiana Rd Murfreesboro. When investigators went to arrest Rhodes he was allegedly found to have in his possession 2 grams of cocaine and approximately 70 hits of acid.
Rhodes was charged with Manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of controlled substance and Criminal Impersonation. His bond is $110,000 and he has a court date of July 22, 2016.

As of Sunday afternoon there had been 36 total Bonnaroo related arrests. Coffee County Sheriff’s Department had made 18 arrests, Manchester Police and the Tennessee Highway Patrol both had made 8 and Tullahoma Police made 2 arrests.

A fire damaged a home at 640 Louis Perry Lane on Friday afternoon in the North Coffee community in Coffee County. One person was at home at the time of the fire, but no one was injured. The flames and smoke did heavy damage to the home.
The North Coffee Fire Department and other volunteer fire units responded to the blaze just before 1 p.m. Coffee County Sheriff’s deputies and Coffee County Emergency Services also reported to the scene.

State prison officials say they are keeping a controversial shift schedule that critics have blamed for understaffing and violence.
Correction Department spokeswoman Neysa Taylor says the 28-day schedule won’t change, although facilities may now use 12-hour shifts or 8.5-hours shifts, depending on their needs.
Correction Commissioner Derrick Schofield in October told the Senate Corrections Subcommittee the department would survey workers about schedule preferences after an audit recommended changing to a 14-day schedule with 12-hour shifts.
The Correction Department requested the audit following a public outcry over violence that workers blamed on understaffing tied to the 28-day schedule. Previously correction officers worked regular seven-day, 40-hour weeks.
The 28-day schedule was intended to control costs by reducing overtime, but an auditor said it was leading to low morale, stress and turnover.